San Francisco pauses new data centers as Mayor Lurie signs 45-day moratorium

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie on Friday signed a moratorium that pauses the development of data centers across the city for 45 days, the San Francisco Standard reported. The measure, authored by Supervisor Shamann Walton, directs the Planning Department to study the impacts of data centers and develop controls for them.

The Board of Supervisors approved the measure unanimously last week after board president Rafael Mandelman fast-tracked it, and Friday was Lurie’s deadline to sign. If he had not signed, it would have taken effect anyway under the ordinance. Lurie said that during the moratorium the city will “develop a thoughtful, responsible framework,” while “prioritizing community needs, keeping electricity rates low, and protecting the clean water and air our residents deserve.”

The Standard reported in September that the Planning Department did not know how many data centers operate in the city; market intelligence firm Data Center Map counts at least six, including two in Bayview-Hunters Point. Walton has said the zoning code lacks a true definition of a data center, and the pause could be extended to as long as 22 months.

San Francisco joins other Bay Area cities rethinking the facilities. Oakland adopted its own 45-day data center moratorium earlier this month, and San Jose presented draft rules for data centers this week, according to the Mercury News.