Residents Blast Pittsburg City Council Over Data Center Approval

On Monday, the Pittsburg City Council was subjected to hours of public comments in response to a data center coming to the City of Pittsburg.

The 300,000 square-foot data center is set to be located on the old Delta View Golf Course site which has been labeled a “technology center” after the golf course closed in 2018.  Fast forward to November 2024, the council unanimously approved the data center.

More than 200 people were in attendance and the council heard more than 100 public comments – a majority of people were against the data center.  The comments blasted the city over transparency, environmental concerns and impacts to the overall city.

What you should know:

• The Pittsburg City Council approved the data center in a 5-0 vote in Nov 2024.
  • A three-phase technology park on 76 acres of the former golf course
• Change.org petition has reached 14,008 signatures
• The comments occurred during public comments, meaning the council could not respond
• Vice Mayor Angelica Lopez scolded the audience saying “Y’all being rude as hell”
• Vice Mayor Lopez received what appears to be a “death threat” during the meeting.
• The council did not take the opportunity on future agenda items to request a “pause” or moratorium on data centers
• Pittsburg city council did not request a future meeting on this topic
• Along with Pittsburg residents, others from Concord, Martinez and Walnut Creek expressed concerns
• Watch the Meeting – click here

Prior to nearly 3 hours of public comments, Mayor Dionne Adams addressed those in the room.

“I know there are strong feelings about the data center project and I recognize as the mayor many residents have questions or concerns. First, I want to acknowledge that these questions are reasonable. Whenever a project comes to our city, residents should ask questions about its impact on our community, our environment, our infrastructure and our quality of life,” said Adams. “I take those concerns seriously as mayor and I appreciate everybody who has taken the time to stay engaged and participate in our public process.”

She continued noting she will continue to support Pittsburg future but to listen and share information. She also said it was her assumption staff will follow up with residents and concerns raised.

John DeLacio, Principal at AVAIO attempted to share information about the data center before being cut off (Note—video cut off, the remainder of his comments not shown)

“I just want to say, you guys have been great partners. The council, staff, we know snice the golf course closed in 2018, the city has been a great partner and through the 2040 plan  this project represents over 6 years of planning, community input balancing redevelopment of the golf course with 50% of the property going to the Premier Fields Project that council is sponsoring with 50% for economic development and we believe that is the right path forward,” explained DeLacio. “We appreciate through this public process we have been able to get less significant impact on every element of CEQA. The project we are building uses 100% recycled water, 100% carbon free electricity. Its going to use direct impact into the PG&E grid and will not impact the residents at all.”

Due to crowd impacts on the speaker, Adams called for a recess.

Tim Sbranti highlighting all the reviews of the project over the past 8 years.

Meanwhile, Tim Sbranti, executive director of the Contra Costa Building Construction Trades Council provided some background.

“We have been engaged in this process for the 8 years that this project has been under review. Our members are fully behind this project and I just want to be able to say that in 8 years there have been so many different reviews,” said Sbranti. “All the different concerns you are hearing here tonight and online, have been reviewed by city departments, not just city police, fire, but community development, economic development, it’s been reviewed by county health. It’s been reviewed by Delta Diablo (Water District), it’s been reviewed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District,  its been reviewed by Contra Costa Water District, its been reviewed by the State Regional Control Water Control Board, its been reviewed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Conservancy, the US Amry Corp of Engineers, the California Energy Commission and the California ISO. I challenge any project anywhere that has had this amount of extensive review. I would encourage the council and staff to make this information public.”

Meanwhile, Wolfgang Crockey to the council the people in the room are not here tonight over a data center, but rather a bad process. He explained with an open process announcing projects, more people would be involved earlier and voice concerns sooner versus packing a council meeting.

Public Comments (limited to 90 seconds each)

• Many residents expressed frustration as to only finding out about the project a few weeks ago due to social media and the online petition.
• Concerns over city transparency
• Asks city to reconsider the project.
• Council accused of not looking at audience when they were doing public comments, accused council of blank stares, not paying attention.
• Wants city to mimic real estate that when a project comes to the city, a sign is placed on the property alerting residents (4×8 sign)
• Many claim citizens not included in process
• Is it about the citizens or the money?
• Technology Center vs. Data Center and what each is and is not.
• Expressed concerns over long-term effects from water usage, power usage, pollution, etc. Many concerns over the environment.
• Questioned the opportunity cost vs. costs to run a data center
• Few permanent long-term jobs
• Suggested land could be better used for economic development or housing
• Asked for a 2-year moratorium for phase 2 and phase 3.
• Wanted a citizen committee for oversight of endangered wildlife and oversee $750k grant to community
• Concerns at some point in the future it will end up costing Pittsburg residents in taxes or supplementing the data center.
• Referred to city of Oakley being proactive with a data center moratorium
• Everywhere these are built, it’s a negative for the community.
• Quality of life concerns, highlighting “humming” sound as seen in other data centers.
• Concerns of correlation of data centers and FLOCK cameras.
• Referenced a University of Michigan booklet on What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town.
• Avoid project administrator process and instead following the planning commission and city council in the open.
• Residents vow to return to each council meeting and will change the council dynamic in November. Reminded council they work for the residents/constituents.

Watch the Meeting – click here (public comments began around 42 min mark)

Related

• June 14, 2026 – Editorial: Pittsburg’s Tone-Deaf Response to Data Center Concerns
• 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

Editors Note – Pittsburg City Council Documents