Opponents of such developments in El Monte and other communities have raised concern over electricity consumption, water usage for cooling, noise pollution and air quality. A facility in Monterey Park drew strong public opposition. The developer eventually withdrew his application. In general, developers of such centers contend that they can be built and maintained with minimal impact on the community.<\/p>\n
The motion by Supervisor Solis contains findings from Pacific Gas & Electric that said data center demand would use the same amount of electricity used to power 8 million homes.<\/p>\n
If that were to happen in LA County, its sustainability goals would be thrown out the window because these centers would force electrical utilities to run \u201cpeaker plants\u201d that are only used to meet emergency power demands and run on diesel or other dirty fossil fuels, producing air contaminants and excessive greenhouse gases that cause global climate change, county officials explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to convert these (plants) using fossil fuels to cleaner energy ones. By adding this additional electrical demand, that can cause an obstacle,\u201d said Rita Kampalath, the county\u2019s chief sustainability officer. \u201cThe study called for in the motion will give us a lot more knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study will look at whether a large data center will use up tremendous amounts of water and raise consumer water bills.<\/p>\n
Mark Pestrella, director of the county Public Works and an expert on water resources, said one large data center can use up to 5 million gallons of water per day. If the local water agencies had to meet the water demands of several data centers, it could mean they would have to buy more imported water from the Colorado River or Northern California, which costs much more than locally stored water from mountain runoff, rainwater, or recycled water.<\/p>\n
He gave the example of managers of the vast, underground San Gabriel basin under much of the San Gabriel Valley, that supplies clean water through wells. If that underground supply was overtapped, water agency managers would have to buy imported water to keep up with demand. \u201cSo, water costs would go up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also said public infrastructure costs for roads, stormwater capture and treatment and water production would be impacted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know water is very precious,\u201d said Solis. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve seen increases to our water rates over the years. Those are issues consumers will have to contend with unless we put in some safeguards.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Opponents of such developments in El Monte and other communities have raised concern over electricity consumption, water usage for cooling, noise pollution and air quality. A facility in Monterey Park drew strong public opposition. The developer eventually withdrew his application.<\/p>\n
Developers of such centers contend that they can be built and maintained with minimal impact on the community.<\/p>\n
The amended sections of Solis\u2019s approved motion require data centers to use less water and to minimize effects on water rates. Any new county ordinance would require developers to pay associated costs affecting energy usage, such as \u201cenvironmental health inspection fees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also, data centers would be required to use clean energy sources. They would also have to pay construction workers and any workers they employ a living wage.<\/p>\n
Although there are no data centers within county unincorporated areas, about 74 data centers are operating within LA County, including one in Redondo Beach used to store and manipulate data from L.A. County government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we want these communities to have clean air, and affordable energy and water, these (data centers) are very big job creators,\u201d said Joe Sullivan, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 11, which represents 12,000 union electricians and 350 contractors.<\/p>\n
Likewise, George Bocanegra, with Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, representing 12,000 members in LA County, said: \u201cThese data centers provide valuable opportunities for high-paying jobs.\u201d He was against a county moratorium but favored a study.<\/p>\n
The county Department of Regional Planning was tasked with finding where data centers should be placed, if at all. \u201cShould we permit them at all? Or where should be put them? They may be allowed with restrictions and with discretionary approval or there may be other areas where they are prohibited outright,\u201d explained Amy Bodek, planning director.<\/p>\n
Some of these centers have been known to use backup generators running on diesel fuel, that produces smog components, such as PM2.5, fine particulates that can get into the lungs and cause disease or acute breathing episodes. Studies found that greenhouse gas emissions from data centers throughout the United States increased by 48% since 2019, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health.<\/p>\n
These centers are not new. Smaller installations have been associated with telephone companies or single users in the past. But now, with large centers running data for Artificial Intelligence spread out over miles, they are computing more data at faster speeds and hotter temperatures, Ferrer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey also make a constant humming noise,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe community has routine noises, but these would be coupled with a low hum that never disappears. That low level of noise pollution at a constant rate can create in some people a sensitivity that can create health impacts,\u201d Ferrer explained.<\/p>\n