Following a handful of other Bay Area cities, the Oakland City Council approved a 45-day moratorium on new data center projects Tuesday.
With a 7-0 vote, the council approved Councilmember Carroll Fife’s proposal to enact a pause on all approvals related to data center development so the city can draft regulations that take into account potential impacts of such projects, according to a report from Fife’s office that was presented to councilmembers.
“Data centers differ from traditional office, industrial, warehouse, or research and development uses because they consume significant amounts of electrical power and water; require extensive mechanical cooling infrastructure; rely upon diesel or other fossil-fueled backup generators, battery energy storage systems, transformers, and fuel storage; generate persistent noise, heat, and vibration; and are associated with increased energy and water consumption, among other environmental impacts,” the report said.
The goal of the moratorium is to give city staff and council members some time to draft planning and land-use regulations that take such impacts into account.
Tuesday’s vote follows similar moves by other Bay Area cities, including San Francisco, Gilroy, Richmond and Oakley. Hayward is also considering its own data center moratorium.
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