Coachella council unanimously extends data center ban into 2027

Coachella's city council voted unanimously last night to extend its ban on new data centers, pushing the moratorium out another 10 months and 15 days, through June 4th, 2027. The original 45-day ban passed last month after the proposed "Coachella Valley Technology Campus" drew strong opposition from residents.

Council members said the extension gives staff the time they need to finish drafting a permanent ban rather than let the temporary one lapse. Staff had pointed to concerns over how much power and water large data centers use, along with noise and air quality impacts on nearby residents, as reasons to keep the freeze in place while the city updates its zoning rules.

The vote also required a four-fifths majority since it was passed as an urgency ordinance, a threshold the council cleared with its unanimous decision.

Next up, city staff take a proposed permanent ban to the Planning Commission on July 18th, then back to the city council for a first reading on August 12th.