Key facts
- Monterey Park, California, has become the first city in the US to enact a permanent ban on data centers through a ballot measure.
- Measure NDC, approved by 86% of voters, amends the city's general plan and land use framework.
- The ban aims to protect air quality, drinking water resources, and public health.
- The measure was initiated after residents protested a proposal by investment firm HMC StratCap to convert an office complex into a data center.
- The ban can only be overturned by a future ballot measure, ensuring long-term protection.
Voters in Monterey Park, California, have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to permanently ban data centers, marking the first such prohibition in the United States enacted through a public vote. The measure, known as Measure NDC, received approximately 86% of the vote, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. This outcome follows months of community opposition to a proposal by investment firm HMC StratCap to convert a vacant office complex into a large-scale data center.
City officials stated that the ban amends the city's general plan and land use framework to prohibit data centers citywide. The measure is designed to protect air quality, drinking water resources, and public health, while also mitigating potential impacts on electricity and water rates. The ban can only be reversed by another ballot initiative, giving residents continuing authority over the issue.
Residents and local organizing groups, such as San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action and "No Data Center in Monterey Park," led protests against the data center proposal, citing concerns over increased electricity demand, noise from cooling equipment and backup generators, and limited local economic benefits. The proposed facility would have been located less than 500 feet from the nearest home and would have consumed three times the electricity of the entire city.
In response to community concerns, the Monterey Park City Council initially passed a 45-day moratorium on data centers in January. This was followed by a unanimous vote in March to extend the moratorium and place the permanent ban on the June 2 ballot. The developer's legal counsel had previously raised the possibility of litigation if the city proceeded with a ban.
The Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group, expressed disappointment, stating the vote signals the area is closed for business and deprives residents of jobs and investment. Meanwhile, SGV Progressive Action is now focusing on similar efforts in other cities, including the City of Industry, which is offering fast-tracked permitting and tax incentives for data centers.