Fairfield's city council will consider Tuesday whether to impose a data-center moratorium in the city, a move that comes even though no company has yet filed a formal proposal. The special meeting will consider the proposed moratorium.
The Reporter reported the city council called the special session for 6 p.m. at the Harry T. Price Memorial Council Chamber inside the City Hall complex on Webster Street. The proposed ordinance would bar the city from accepting, processing or approving any data-center applications or permits during the pause, the outlet reported.
No Application Yet, But Interest Is Real
Fairfield has not received a formal data-center application, but city staff has fielded inquiries from NorthPoint Development about building a facility east of Vanden Road in Planning Area 6 of the Train Station Specific Plan, per the same account. NorthPoint is reportedly looking to purchase the land from Canon Partners LLC, which already holds approval for a master-planned industrial development of up to 4.6 million square feet on the site. The Reporter described the property as sitting near the intersection of Canon Road and North Gate Road, with reported acreage ranging from 289 to 300 acres.
Existing Rules Weren't Built for Data Centers
Fairfield is weighing how to address data-center development through its land-use rules.
The proposed moratorium would temporarily pause data-center development in Fairfield.
A Statewide Scramble to Regulate
Fairfield would not be alone in hitting pause. Oakland's city council unanimously approved its own 45-day moratorium on new data-center approvals earlier last month, and San Francisco approved a similar measure around the same time, according to CalMatters. The outlet reported that at least 26 resolutions, moratoriums or bans on data-center development have been passed or proposed statewide since June, citing figures from Food & Water Watch. California currently ranks third nationally in data-center density, with 366 facilities operational, under construction or in planning, CalMatters reported.
Resource use and pollution are among the concerns raised in debates over data centers.
Opponents argue these energy-hungry facilities strain power grids, deplete water supplies and pollute the air, CalMatters reported.
