Coachella residents push for data center moratorium as debate grows over proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus
Coachella residents demand a moratorium on data centers, opposing the proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus amid concerns about water use, energy demand, air quality and transparency, with more than 100 protesters pressing city leaders to halt the project.
Key takeaways
- Local pushback: Over 100 protesters attended a council meeting and more than 250 residents addressed the council in April, calling for a moratorium on data centers.
- Project scale unclear: The proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus is reported at roughly 240 to 450 acres at Avenue 52 and Fillmore Street.
- Major concerns: Residents cite water use during drought, increased energy demand and rates, air quality, loss of farmland and lack of transparency.
- Status: No formal plans or permits have been submitted; any development would require a full environmental review and public hearings.
Main story
Overview
The proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus — pitched as a large technology and energy campus — has ignited community resistance in Coachella, California. Residents and local stakeholders have raised questions about the project’s footprint, potential strain on scarce water resources, and broader public-health and equity implications.
Project details
Project name: Coachella Valley Technology Campus, proposed at Avenue 52 and Fillmore Street.
Developers: Stronghold Power Systems and DMK Project Solutions, in a proposed partnership with the City of Coachella’s utility.
Size & components: Accounts vary — the site is reported at about 240 acres in some reports and up to 450 acres in others. Plans describe multiple data center buildings, an energy facility and supporting infrastructure; no formal plans or permits have been submitted.
Public reaction and protests
Residents have consistently packed council chambers and public spaces. At least one April council meeting drew more than 100 protesters, and city records and media accounts note that over 250 people spoke to the council in April on the project, even when it was not on the agenda. Dozens gathered near Veterans Park to line up for public comment; protesters chanted, carried signs and urged leaders to halt approvals absent deeper study and community engagement.
“We have made it abundantly clear that we don’t want or need this project. You can build a utility without data centers,” — resident Stephanie Ambriz, public comment.
What residents are saying
Farmers and landowners have raised alarms about converting working farmland and placing water-intensive infrastructure in an agricultural area. Sky Valley farmer Tabitha Davies highlighted the incongruity of siting a water-dependent development on farmland during drought years.
Residents also cite regional pressures — a shrinking Colorado River and long-standing water access issues in mobile home parks — and are concerned that new power and cooling needs could strain the Imperial Irrigation District and drive up rates for Valley and Imperial County customers.
City leadership response
Coachella’s Mayor Pro Tem Frank Figueroa said the project remains in early stages and emphasized that no formal process has begun. He noted that any development would require formal applications, environmental review and public hearings and announced a community forum scheduled for May 11, 2026. Figueroa — a resident — said he has personal reservations about water and electricity impacts and has signaled support for exploring a moratorium if appointed mayor.
City officials stress that no approval has been granted and that public input will factor into next steps.
Developers’ pitch and economic claims
Developers have presented the campus as a way to support Coachella’s pursuit of a municipal utility and to bring jobs and tax revenue. Supporters highlight potential construction work and operational roles. Opponents remain skeptical: data centers are often highly automated and deliver fewer permanent jobs than other industrial projects.
Transparency concerns persist: reporting shows a $4,900 donation from Stronghold to former Mayor Steven Hernandez’s campaign, a detail critics cite when questioning influence and process.
Regulatory and environmental status
City officials say no formal plans or permits have been filed. If developers move forward, the project would require a full environmental impact review assessing water use, energy demand, air quality, traffic, noise, farmland and neighborhood impacts. Local groups are calling on leaders to use that review — or a formal moratorium on data centers — to ensure comprehensive study and protection for residents.
Regional parallels and implications
The Coachella debate mirrors battles in the Imperial Valley and areas south of the Salton Sea, with similar worries about intensive water and power needs, degraded air quality and the siting of heavy industry in largely rural, low-income, majority-Latino communities. Coachella is roughly 97% Latino, making environmental justice a central element of the debate.
Possible outcomes if built include short-term construction jobs, limited long-term operations employment, increased utility demands and potential rate impacts for residents across the Inland Empire.
Transparency and trust
A recurring theme in public comment is frustration over perceived lack of transparency. Residents say they learned about the project through media and word of mouth rather than direct outreach from city officials, fueling calls for stronger community engagement or a moratorium.
Next steps for coverage
Reporters will attend the May 11 community forum, track any formal permit filings or environmental review notices, and follow the city council’s consideration of a potential moratorium on data centers in Coachella. Community engagement and formal filings will shape the timeline and scope of any environmental review.
Sources and reporting notes
This article draws on reporting and public statements from local outlets and public meetings. Key sources include:
- Coachella Mayor Frank Figueroa speaks on controversial data center — KESQ
- More than 100 residents protest proposed data center at Coachella City Council meeting — KESQ
- Coachella residents call for data center moratorium as debate expands across Southern California — KPBS
- Public council meeting video — YouTube
- Coachella leadership crisis deepens — GPS Business Insider
Next reporting will cover the May 11 community forum, any permit filings or environmental review notices, and the council’s deliberations on a possible moratorium.
