S.F. and Oakland pause new data center approvals

The decisions

San Francisco and Oakland voted to temporarily stop new data centers from moving forward. The action is a pause rather than a permanent policy, based on the description of the votes.

The decision places the two cities on one side of a regional discussion about how to handle proposed data centers. The cities’ votes are the central action in this development.

A different approach elsewhere

Another city is taking a different path instead of temporarily banning new data centers. The city and the details of its approach are not identified here, so the differences in its policy cannot be described more specifically.

What the votes mean

A temporary ban can limit new approvals while a city considers its next steps. The record here does not establish how long either pause will last, which projects could be affected, or whether San Francisco and Oakland will adopt longer-term rules.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the votes and the contrasting approach: S.F., Oakland vote to temporarily ban new data centers. Another city is taking a different path.