Stockton, CA – As a precautionary and proactive measure, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted to direct County staff to study the potential impacts of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in San Joaquin County and explore whether new land-use regulations are needed.
“The County does not currently have land-use regulations specifically addressing the unique size, intensity, and resource demands of large-scale artificial intelligence and similar high-intensity data centers. Because there are no existing facilities or active applications, that gives us an important opportunity to be proactive - to establish appropriate policies before an application is submitted, rather than trying to address these complex issues after the fact,” District Five Supervisor Robert Rickman stated.
There are currently no active applications for data centers and no data centers operating in unincorporated San Joaquin County. However, communities across the country are examining the potential impacts of large-scale data centers, including their demands on water and electricity, local infrastructure, emergency services, and surrounding land uses. Concerns have also been raised about the potential for increased noise, traffic and other impacts on nearby communities.
“We want to have protocols in place and have done our homework before this becomes an issue for our community,” said District One Supervisor Mario Gardea. “We can’t deny that AI is becoming a part of everyday life. But we can be ready.”
At the Board’s direction, Community Development Department (CDD) will gather community input and conduct research. This process is expected to take approximately six months to complete. CDD will then present its findings to the Board.
“We need to put our residents first,” said Chair and District Three Supervisor Sonny Dhaliwal. “It’s critical to get our community’s input, especially when we’re talking about the potential impacts and stresses a data center could place on our quality of life.”
It’s expected that in October, after CDD shares its initial findings, the Board will consider an initial 45-day moratorium on the approval of data center projects while an ordinance is being considered.
Anyone interested in participating in the public hearings and discussion, visit Community Development | sjgov.org
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