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Water, energy, noise and equity: committee cites environmental and community impacts of data centers
Summary
Staff and sponsors said public testimony and staff analyses raised concerns about groundwater cooling, electricity demand, noise, and equitable impacts on communities and the Agricultural Reserve; the committee emphasized further study by OLO and state agencies.
Staff summarized common themes from public testimony and planning department analyses: potential impacts on water quality and quantity (including prohibiting groundwater use for cooling systems), electricity grid concerns, noise regulations, efficiency and backup energy standards, protection of the Agricultural Reserve, and prioritizing racial equity and social justice in impact assessments.
Vice President Marilyn Balcom and the Council President stressed the need to "take our time" and coordinate with an Office of Legislative Oversight report and ongoing state studies before finalizing operational standards. "We truly love this county," the Council President said in framing the need for environmental protections and community safeguards.
