FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2026
Contact:
Luz Hernandez, luz@cbecal.org
Oakland City Council Passes 45-Day Moratorium on Data Centers
Oakland becomes fifth in the Bay Area to pass a data center moratorium
Oakland, CA — Yesterday, the Oakland City Council successfully passed a 45-day moratorium on new data center development with seven votes, making Oakland the first city in Alameda County and the fifth city in the Bay Area, following Richmond and San Francisco, to temporarily halt new data centers. The moratorium gives the city time to study the potential impacts of data centers and consider permanent protections before any AI Data Centers are proposed in Oakland.
Without local safeguards, hyperscale data centers could place significant new demands on Oakland’s electricity and water systems, contribute additional pollution, and expose residents to higher infrastructure and utility costs.
This resolution is the latest in a wave of grassroots action against data centers. So far, 26 resolutions, moratoriums or bans on data center development have been proposed across California.
###
The Stop AI Data Centers in Alameda County coalition includes Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), Food & Water Watch, Fossil Free California, Frontline Catalysts, Local Clean Energy Alliance, Oil & Gas Action Network, Reclaim Our Power, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, Wholly H2O, and 350 Bay Area.