Data Center Moratorium Extension On City Council's Radar This Week

INDIO, CA — Indio officials are poised to extend the city's temporary ban on new data centers this week, keeping the moratorium in place as the city works toward what could become a permanent prohibition on the massive, power- and water-intensive facilities.

On June 3, the Indio City Council unanimously approved an urgency ordinance establishing a 45-day moratorium on data center development applications citywide. On June 24, city staff identified concerns relating to the impact of data centers, including water consumption, electrical demand, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and air quality.

The following month, council members extended the moratorium for 90 days, which is set to expire on Oct. 16.

A second and final extension will be considered Wednesday "on the establishment, expansion or intensification of data centers and other similar high-intensity computing uses," officials said.

The additional time would provide city staff a chance to draft permanent amendments to the city's general plan and/or unified development code, zoning regulations, development standards and other applicable regulations, according to a staff report.

If approved, the moratorium would be extended for an additional year through Oct. 16, 2027. However, adoption will require a four-fifths vote of the City Council.

Currently, there are no data-center applications pending in Indio, according oto the city's Planning Commission, which supports the ban. The city's Sustainability Commission also supports the city-wide ban. According to a media report in the Desert Oasis Insider, this is a preemptive land-use policy decision, not a fight over a developer or project.

Wednesday's council meeting will take place at 5 p.m. at 100 Civic Center Drive, and a large crowd is expected.