A temporary ban on data centers was in effect in Coachella Friday.
During a special meeting Thursday, the Coachella City Council unanimously approved an urgency ordinance imposing a 45-day moratorium on applications and terminated its agreement with Stronghold Power Systems Inc., which had planned to develop a data center in the city.
The moratorium follows months of protests from community members throughout the Coachella Valley citing concerns about data centers, ranging from environmental and health issues to higher electricity rates. City staff is expected to return to the council with a possible proposal for a permanent ban on data centers.
The proposed data center in the city, dubbed the Coachella Valley Technology Campus, was planned to be built on at least 240 acres of agricultural land near the intersection of Avenue 52 and Fillmore Street.
The council in February approved a Municipal Utility Development Agreement with Coachella Valley Power Services LLC, an affiliate of Stronghold Power Systems Inc., which established a public-private partnership aimed to create new municipally owned electric utility to service the city. But the council’s action Thursday night terminated that deal.
“Stronghold Power Systems is disappointed by the city council’s decision to terminate our development agreement,” a spokesperson for Stronghold said in a statement.
Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Coachella, hailed the city’s actions.
“This is a big win for our communities. Next week, I am sending formal letters to the EPA and the Department of Energy demanding federal protections for families and neighborhoods across data centers,” Ruiz wrote on social media.