Two of the Bay Area's biggest cities put the brakes on new data centers on Tuesday, Oct. 6, as concern grows about how much energy and water the facilities behind artificial intelligence consume.

San Francisco

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a 45-day moratorium that pauses city approvals of data centers and directs the Planning Department to study their impacts and draft long-term rules, The San Francisco Standard reported. According to the Standard's corrected story, the measure now goes to Mayor Daniel Lurie for action.

Supervisor Shamann Walton wrote the proposal. He represents District 10, which runs from Visitacion Valley and Bayview-Hunters Point to Potrero Hill and Dogpatch. Walton said the study period will examine energy, water, air quality, land use and community impacts, and will also produce a clearer definition of what counts as a data center.

Citing market-intelligence firm Data Center Map, the Standard reported that two of the city's six data center sites are in Walton's district. The paper also reported that in August, a lobbyist for a private equity firm marketing a 1.6-acre data center site met with two of the mayor's policy chiefs about permits for a waterfront parcel in Dogpatch.

City leaders plan to hold a hearing on the Planning Department's progress by November. The moratorium could be extended for up to 22 months, though it's unclear whether officials would do that. Walton was first elected in 2018 and terms out in January.

Oakland

Across the bay, the Oakland City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday night for an urgency measure that puts a 45-day moratorium on new data center development citywide, KTVU FOX 2 reported. The pause took effect immediately.

Councilmember Carroll Fife, who sponsored the measure, wants time to study possible effects on local water supplies, the electrical grid and air quality. Fife has also criticized developers for using non-disclosure agreements to keep project details from officials and the public.

The vote came after scrutiny of a plan by Behring Companies to turn the ground floor of a downtown building near 20th and Franklin streets into a data center, with the upper floors used as office space for AI research.

Public comment was divided. Some speakers raised concerns about water use, while others argued that data centers would bring jobs. Mayor Barbara Lee supported the pause as a chance for residents to weigh in. NBC Bay Area reported that she voiced the same support around her State of the City address.

Fife has scheduled a community conversation for Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. at Beth Eden Baptist Church, 1183 10th St. in West Oakland.

A regional trend

According to the Standard, Oakley, Richmond and Gilroy already have data center moratoriums, and Hayward is considering one.