Monterey Park’s city council just hit pause on a proposed 250,000-square-foot data center conversion of a vacant office site after residents pushed back hard.
The core friction is classic AI infrastructure: huge power draw, heavy water use for cooling, and 24/7 noise from server and mechanical systems near long-established homes.
Local opponents are framing this as an environmental and quality-of-life issue, while union workers see near-term construction jobs and economic upside.
An academic voice underscores the growing siting tension in AI infrastructure: hyperscale and AI data centers are better tolerated away from dense residential areas, given power, water, and pollution concerns.
The article briefly contrasts this fight with Louisiana, where Meta’s massive AI server farm is being sold as an economic win for a small community, highlighting how local politics shape AI buildout.
For vendors and operators, this is another signal that grid access and zoning are only half the battle; social license and location strategy are now core design constraints.
Worth reading to track how community resistance is evolving as AI-scale data centers move closer to populated areas.
Source: Monterey Park City Council tables proposal for massive data center – CBS Los Angeles
