A Data Center Company is Interested in Someday Building a 30,000+ Square Foot Center in Humboldt County
Oppidan Connect is exploring building a 30,000-50,000 square foot data center in Humboldt County, California, potentially near Arcata, to act as a network signal booster. No applications have been filed yet, and Arcata city officials are considering policies to slow or stop data center development due to space constraints and high resource consumption concerns. Oppidan Connect has faced moratoriums on other projects and is open to working with communities that establish clear development standards.
Oppidan Connect, a data center company, has expressed interest in developing a 30,000 to 50,000 square-foot "signal booster" data center somewhere in Humboldt County, Northern California. Drew Johnson, Oppidan's Data Center Lead, confirmed the company's interest, stating the facility would consume 4-8 megawatts of electricity and employ about 20 full-time staff, emphasizing it would be more akin to telecommunications infrastructure than an AI or data storage facility. This project is in its early stages, with no applications yet filed, and could take years to navigate zoning and permitting.
Arcata City Manager Merritt Perry indicated to Oppidan Connect that Arcata may not be an ideal location due to limited space and the city council's potential desire to slow or halt data center development. Perry highlighted community concerns regarding AI data centers' high consumptive use, despite the recognized benefits of increased connectivity for remote work and local businesses. The City Council's stance on future data center development remains uncertain.
Johnson noted that Oppidan Connect has faced moratoriums on other projects and is prepared to collaborate with communities that implement smart, well-defined moratoriums aimed at establishing clear development standards. The company is considering multiple locations in Northern California, prioritizing sites with adequate energy and water access.