Coachella council unanimously extends data center ban into 2027
The Coachella City Council unanimously voted to extend its temporary ban on new data centers until June 4, 2027. This extension grants city staff more time to draft a permanent ban, following resident opposition to a proposed data center campus. Concerns include high power and water usage, noise, and air quality impacts.
The Coachella City Council has unanimously voted to extend its moratorium on new data centers until June 4, 2027, granting city staff more time to draft a permanent ban. The initial 45-day ban was implemented last month after the proposed "Coachella Valley Technology Campus" sparked significant resident opposition.
Council members stated the extension is crucial for updating the city's zoning rules and addressing concerns raised by staff, including the substantial power and water consumption of large data centers, as well as potential noise and air quality impacts on nearby residents. The vote passed as an urgency ordinance, requiring a four-fifths majority.
Looking ahead, city staff are scheduled to present a proposed permanent ban to the Planning Commission on July 18th, followed by a first reading before the city council on August 12th.