In the past few weeks, public opposition to a proposed data center in the city of Pittsburg has grown from a handful of concerned residents into a full-scale community backlash.
The irony is that this project isn’t new. In fact, it was publicly discussed, approved, and reported on.
The data center was proposed in 2024 and unanimously approved by the Pittsburg City Council in a 5-0 vote in November of that year. Yet many residents are only now realizing the scale and potential impacts of a facility that will soon be built in their community.
At that November meeting, Pittsburg Chamber President Wolfgang Croskey and City Treasurer Nancy Parent raised concerns about the process and warned city leaders that public opposition would eventually come. Nearly two years later, those warnings appear to have been well-founded. Today, city leadership seems caught off guard by the level of public concern.
Residents have questions. Many of them are legitimate.
Unfortunately, the city’s response has often come across as dismissive, defensive, and tone-deaf.
Instead of directly addressing concerns, residents have been met with social media graphics, short videos linking to longer videos, and a steady stream of talking points. The city appears to believe that simply telling its story will be enough.
It won’t.
Rather than proactively engaging the community, City Hall has largely reacted to criticism. Concerns have been brushed aside, skepticism has been met with canned responses, and public frustration has only intensified. Whether city officials realize it or not, this issue is no longer just about a data center—it is about trust.
While newly appointed city manager Darin Gale was thrown into this mess long after approval, and I believe he will figure this out, what makes this situation even more frustrating is that Pittsburg staff had plenty of warning signs outrage was coming.
Earlier this year, nearby communities wrestled with similar proposals. In January, the City of Oakley faced significant public opposition during its own data center discussions, ultimately resulting in a temporary moratorium. Across California and the nation, cities, counties, and even states have begun taking a closer look at the impacts of data centers before approving additional projects.
Pittsburg should have anticipated these concerns and launched a public education effort months ago before it even got to this point. Instead, every new statement from the city seems to generate more questions than answers. Residents deserve clear and direct responses to some very basic questions:
- How has the project changed since it was approved in 2024?
- What is the long-term impact on energy consumption and electrical infrastructure?
- What is the purpose of this data center? Enterprise data center? Colocation Data Center? AI Data Center? Hyperscale Data center? Cloud Data Center? Edge Data Center? Modular Data Center? Or something else? And what Tier data center will this ultimately be at build out?
- How will recycled water be used, and what effect could that have on other community needs?
- What safeguards are in place to prevent water pressure or water quality issues?
- What tangible benefits will the community receive in exchange for hosting this project?
- Highlight how California building codes and environmental law differ from other states and why some of those same issues won’t happen here?
- If problems arise, what accountability measures and contingency plans are in place? For example, what happens if residents experience water quality issues or reduced pressure?
These are not unreasonable questions and dozens more are out there. They are the types of questions any informed community should be asking before a major infrastructure project moves forward.
Elected officials should also be willing to revisit the discussion publicly. With far more information available today than there was in 2024, where do city leaders stand now? Do they still support the project? If so, why? If not, what has changed?
Meanwhile, a Change.org petition is approaching 10,000 signatures, residents are threatening to pack City Hall meetings, and frustration continues to grow. The city must recognize a simple reality: public concern surrounding this project is not going away.
Attempting to control the narrative is not a strategy.
The better approach is transparency.
City leaders should openly acknowledge concerns, separate fact from fiction, explain what does and does not apply to this specific project, and engage residents honestly. The goal should not be to convince everyone to support the project. The goal should be to ensure residents feel informed, respected, and heard.
Equally troubling is the lack of discussion regarding future data center proposals. Given the controversy surrounding this project, the City Council should at least consider whether a temporary moratorium on future applications is warranted until broader policies, standards, and community expectations can be established.
Leadership is tested during controversy, not during calm.
I have no doubt the five members of the city council who approved this project love Pittsburg and approved this project because they thought it was a good deal for the city it was based off information provided by staff. However, right now, Pittsburg residents are looking for answers, transparency, and accountability. Instead, many see silence, defensiveness, and a city government that appears disconnected from the concerns of its own community.
If that perception continues, voters will ultimately have the final say which could trigger a whole other set of issues. The November election could become a referendum not just on a data center, but on the city’s approach to transparency, public engagement, and leadership.
The data center debate may have started as a land-use issue. Pittsburg’s response—or lack thereof—has turned it into something much larger.
Mike Burkholder
Publisher of ContraCosta.news
[email protected]
Related Stories:
- Dec 2024 – AVAIO Digital Partners Achieves Major Milestone for Pittsburg Technology Park “Perseus” Data Center Project
- June 7, 2018 – Council Agrees to Begin Process to Bring 100-Acre Technology Park to Pittsburg
- May 8, 2018 – Pittsburg City Council Opts to Permanently Close Delta View Golf Course in Favor of Economic Opportunities
