Fresno Mayor supports 10-year ban on data center development

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has announced his support for a proposed 10-year ban on the development of new data centers within the city. The resolution, authored by City Councilmember Nick Richardson, aims to direct city staff to incorporate this prohibition into the city’s Development Code, effectively closing loopholes that currently allow data centers to be authorized through planning director determinations.

Mayor Dyer cited several concerns regarding the impact of data centers, including high electricity and water consumption, strain on the local power grid, constant mechanical noise, and the minimal number of permanent jobs created relative to the amount of land occupied. He expressed a preference for using land, particularly in the Southeast Development Area (SEDA), for housing and advanced manufacturing industries.

Councilmember Miguel Arias also expressed support for a ban, though he raised concerns regarding the speed of implementation and called for greater transparency. Arias specifically requested that any non-disclosure agreements between the city and data center companies be made public to address resident concerns regarding a lack of trust in the administration.