Residents press Orange County to pause AI data‑center projects as officials weigh moratorium

Hundreds of residents packed the morning public‑comment period to urge the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to pause approvals of large artificial‑intelligence data‑center projects until county staff can study and write rules specific to the industry. Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, who sponsored the request, said the pause would buy time to define different data‑center types, set setback and noise standards, and assess cumulative impacts on water and power.