1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

As a resident of California, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the rapid expansion of data centers across our state and their massive, continuous demands on our local electrical grids and public water supplies. While I recognize the economic benefits and the importance of digital infrastructure, the current trajectory is unsustainable for our communities and our natural resources. Data centers consume extraordinary amounts of electricity to power thousands of servers around the clock. The centers operate continuously and often rely on fossil-fuel backup generators during power failures, adding both greenhouse gases and local air pollutants. This heavy load strains our electrical grid, particularly during extreme summer weather events when residents are asked to conserve power to prevent rolling blackouts. Furthermore, the surge in data center demand threatens to slow our state's progress toward mandatory clean-energy goals. Equally alarming is the immense water consumption required for cooling these massive computing facilities. Millions of gallons of potable water are evaporated daily in cooling systems. In a state that faces recurring droughts, severe water restrictions, and climate-induced strain on our reservoirs, allocating scarce water resources to cool private tech infrastructure is a profound misplacement of community priorities. Our agricultural producers and residential neighborhoods should never bear the burden of resource scarcity. Therefore, we request an immediate moratorium on all building of new data centers across California. Before any future projects are approved, the state must mandate rigorous environmental studies and strict approval processes. Operators must implement mandatory transparency for energy and water projections, enforce strict net-zero standards, and invest in closed-loop cooling systems. Furthermore, operators must source 100% verified clean energy rather than drawing from the shared public grid during peak demand hours. Our state’s resources belong to the public and must be managed for long-term ecological survival, not short-term tech expansion. Thank you for your time, public service, and commitment to protecting California’s future. Sincerely, A Concerned California Resident