Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee weighs strict noise controls for data centers, including decibel caps and scheduled generator tests
Summary
Technical consultants and county staff recommended decibel caps at property lines, worst-case acoustic modeling and scheduled limits on generator testing; staff proposed daytime-only routine tests, mandatory peer review and applicant-funded post-occupancy verification.
Concerns about data-center noise — particularly low-frequency hums and generator testing — dominated technical discussion at the committee meeting. Will Calderon, an environmental engineer with Olsen, told the committee engineers rely on manufacturer specifications and worst-case assumptions when modeling noise from generators, chillers and cooling equipment. "We model that" using client-provided worst-case unit specifications, Calderon said.
Mitch Baer outlined proposed regulatory measures: maximum decibel limits at property lines (daytime standards in the 55–65 dB range, nighttime down to 45 dB with separate…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
