Coachella kills massive data center project after resident backlash and considers future ban for similar ‘tech campuses’
Coachella, California, imposed a temporary 45-day ban on data centers and terminated its agreement with Stronghold Power following months of resident protests over environmental and energy concerns. The city joins Monterey Park, which became the first in the U.S. to permanently ban new data centers after a voter-approved ballot measure, signaling growing local opposition to tech infrastructure projects.
The City of Coachella in Riverside County, California, unanimously approved a 45-day moratorium on data center developments and terminated its agreement with Stronghold Power on June 6. The decision reverses an earlier February approval for the 450-acre ‘Coachella Valley Technology Campus,’ which faced widespread backlash from residents citing environmental and electricity rate concerns. Protesters gathered outside the city meeting, holding signs and chanting ‘No Data Centers!’ before the vote. Stronghold Power expressed disappointment, stating the project included ‘leading-edge environmental protections’ and would have provided substantial benefits to Coachella. The company’s Government Affairs Advisor emphasized its commitment to sustainable development, though the city council opted to halt further progress. The opposition to data centers extends beyond Coachella, as Monterey Park recently became the first U.S. city to permanently ban new data center development after voters approved a ballot measure. This reflects broader concerns about the industry’s impact on local communities, including energy demand and infrastructure strain. Coachella’s City Council will reconvene in July to discuss next steps, potentially including a permanent ban on similar ‘tech campuses.’ The moratorium applies to both Coachella and neighboring Indio, which also enacted a temporary halt to data center projects. Resident James Rodriguez welcomed the decision, calling it a ‘course correction’ and expressing excitement over the moratorium’s implementation. The move underscores the tension between economic development and community priorities in California’s tech-driven landscape.
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