Coachella weighs moratorium after data center protests

Coachella moratorium – Hundreds of residents packed a Coachella City Council meeting on Wednesday to oppose Stronghold Power Systems’ proposed data center campus. All four council members signaled support for a temporary halt while the city reviews the plan and hires outside legal c

By the time the meeting stretched past five hours. the message outside Coachella City Hall had already made itself impossible to miss. Protesters held signs with slogans including “Defend Coachella. no data centers” and “Protect our environment. not tech profits. ” pushing back against a proposal they say would reshape their neighborhood at the wrong moment.

Inside, the crowd matched the urgency. After hundreds of people showed up to protest at the Coachella City Council meeting on Wednesday evening. all four council members signaled support for a temporary halt to Stronghold Power Systems’ proposal so the city can study the issue further. The council also voted 4-0 to hire outside legal counsel to review an agreement for a city-controlled utility to provide power for the project.

The plan under fire centers on the Coachella Valley Technology Campus, according to planning documents. It would span up to 450 acres and eventually include six data centers. Stronghold has said the initial phase would feature three data center buildings. each about 1 million square feet. with capacity of 90 megawatts per facility.

The proposed location is at 52nd Ave & Fillmore St, Coachella, CA 92274. Residents focused their complaints on basics they say shouldn’t be treated as afterthoughts: water use. air pollution. energy demands. and the project’s proximity to homes and schools. Coachella resident Adriana Suarez told the council, “This valley is already facing extreme heat, water scarcity, and infrastructure strain. These data centers do not belong here, and you guys know it.”.

Stronghold CEO Scott Bailey defended the proposal during the meeting. arguing that opponents were spreading “false information.” Bailey said the project would use a closed-loop cooling system that would not tap the city’s drinking water. He also said the development could generate more than $20 million annually for the city. “It goes on and on and on about the benefits,” Bailey said. “They obviously don’t want to hear it, but I’m here for you guys.”.

The pushback appears to be landing on the council. Mayor Frank Figueroa said he would support a moratorium and a more permanent ordinance on data centers. Councilmember Yadira Perez said. “There was not one resident that came. not today. not the other council meetings. not the town hall. in support for the data center.”.

The council could vote on a moratorium at a special meeting tentatively scheduled for June 3.

A town grappling with high-stakes infrastructure sits at the center of the clash: the council is now pausing to study Stronghold’s proposal and is bringing in outside legal counsel to review how the city-controlled utility will provide power. Residents are asking for time because they see immediate burdens—water. air. energy. and nearby schools and homes—while Stronghold is arguing for the opposite. pointing to a closed-loop cooling approach and more than $20 million in potential annual revenue.

Coachella’s latest turn follows a pattern seen elsewhere. In Box Elder, Utah, county commissioners recently approved a massive data center known as the Stratos Project, backed by “Shark Tank” personality Kevin O’Leary, despite ferocious opposition.

Coachella data center moratorium Stronghold Power Systems Coachella Valley Technology Campus city-controlled utility power agreement outside legal counsel water use energy demands air pollution 52nd Ave & Fillmore St June 3 special meeting