Coachella City Council to vote on permanent data center ban

The Coachella City Council is scheduled to vote on a permanent ban regarding data centers within the city. If the ordinance is adopted, it will take effect 30 days after the vote, making Coachella the first city in the Coachella Valley to implement a permanent prohibition.

The proposed Ordinance No. 1231 defines a data center as a site or structure used for the storage, processing, or transmission of digital data. However, certain exemptions are included for accessory server rooms, information technology facilities, and data processing equipment.

City officials cited several concerns as the basis for the ban, including potential strain on the electric infrastructure and water supply, as well as noise, land use, and environmental issues. This move follows public scrutiny regarding a previously approved agreement with Stronghold Power Systems Inc. to develop the Coachella Valley Technology Campus. That project, intended for over 240 acres of agricultural land, was halted after the council voted for a moratorium and canceled the developer agreement earlier this year.