Hundreds of San Jose residents, alongside faith leaders and youth activists, gathered at City Hall on Thursday night to voice concerns regarding the city's approach to data center expansion. Many attendees called for a moratorium on new development, arguing the approval process is moving too quickly without adequately addressing public input.
While city leadership frames data centers as an essential foundation for the region's digital economy, community members expressed frustration over potential impacts and a perceived lack of transparency.
Sruthi Manoj of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action highlighted concerns about noise disruption, environmental degradation, and the capacity of the city's electrical grid. Manoj questioned whether sufficient infrastructure and standards are currently in place to ensure data centers truly benefit the community, noting that neighboring Santa Clara has already reached its grid capacity. She emphasized the need for San Jose to establish necessary infrastructure and standards before reaching a similar saturation point.
Community members also pointed to shortcomings in city outreach, particularly for non-English-speaking residents. San Jose resident Misrayan Mendoza stated that the city's significant immigrant population, which comprises 42% of residents, requires information in multiple languages, including Spanish and Vietnamese. Mendoza also raised questions about whether expanding to over 30 data centers would lead to increased utility bills for residents or contribute to local environmental warming. Matthew McHale, a minister with the South Bay Interfaith Climate Justice Network, echoed concerns about public awareness and the environmental impact, stating that many residents remain unaware of the city’s plans and that data centers could harm both people and the planet.
Despite the community's pushback, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan maintained that halting data center development is not a realistic option, given the demands of an increasingly digitized economy. Mahan stated that the internet, phones, and applications all rely on this digital infrastructure. However, he stressed that companies will not be given "a pass" and that the city aims to lead regulatory conversations. The Mayor indicated that staff is currently developing draft standards for data centers that cover high labor, clean energy, and water recycling, describing them as "category-defining" in addressing community concerns.
Immediately following the meeting, an anti-data center demonstration took place outside City Hall. While residents continued to advocate for a pause on approvals, city leadership signaled that data center development will remain a fixture of San Jose's future.
