Monterey Park, California, residents voted to ban data centers by public referendum on June 4, 2026, becoming the first city in the nation to enact such a permanent prohibition. According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 86% of voters supported Measure NDC, a mandate that can only be overturned by a future ballot measure. This vote formalizes a previous city council ordinance that was established after significant public outcry against a proposed 247,000-square-foot facility. Residents had argued that the project, which was planned for a site less than 500 feet from residential homes, would have consumed three times the electricity used by the entire 60,000-person city while causing noise and air pollution.

Amy Wong, co-founder of the local advocacy group San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action, stated that the vote secures long-lasting protections against future development attempts. While the developer of the original proposed facility, investment firm HMC StratCap, withdrew its application in March, the Data Center Coalition trade group criticized the ballot result. Khara Boender, state policy director for the coalition, argued that the ban sends a signal that the region is closed to economic development, potentially causing the area to lose out on tax revenue and high-wage jobs.

The opposition to data centers in the San Gabriel Valley is part of a broader national trend as cities manage the infrastructure demands of facilities powering artificial intelligence. California currently hosts 300 data centers, placing it third in the country, though growth in the state has been constrained by high land costs and electricity rates compared to hubs like Virginia and Georgia. While other local jurisdictions such as Montebello, El Monte, and Baldwin Park have enacted temporary moratoriums, the Monterey Park measure represents the most permanent jurisdiction-wide restriction to date. Supporters like Wong hope the result will galvanize opposition to ongoing facility proposals in neighboring areas, such as the City of Industry and Vernon, where residents fear regional utility cost increases and environmental impact.

Monterey Park, California, residents voted to ban data centers by public referendum on June 4, 2026, becoming the first city in the nation to enact such a permanent prohibition. According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 86% of voters supported Measure NDC, a mandate that can only be overturned by a future ballot measure. This vote formalizes a previous city council ordinance that was established after significant public outcry against a proposed 247,000-square-foot facility. Residents had argued that the project, which was planned for a site less than 500 feet from residential homes, would have consumed three times the electricity used by the entire 60,000-person city while causing noise and air pollution.

Amy Wong, co-founder of the local advocacy group San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action, stated that the vote secures long-lasting protections against future development attempts. While the developer of the original proposed facility, investment firm HMC StratCap, withdrew its application in March, the Data Center Coalition trade group criticized the ballot result. Khara Boender, state policy director for the coalition, argued that the ban sends a signal that the region is closed to economic development, potentially causing the area to lose out on tax revenue and high-wage jobs.

The opposition to data centers in the San Gabriel Valley is part of a broader national trend as cities manage the infrastructure demands of facilities powering artificial intelligence. California currently hosts 300 data centers, placing it third in the country, though growth in the state has been constrained by high land costs and electricity rates compared to hubs like Virginia and Georgia. While other local jurisdictions such as Montebello, El Monte, and Baldwin Park have enacted temporary moratoriums, the Monterey Park measure represents the most permanent jurisdiction-wide restriction to date. Supporters like Wong hope the result will galvanize opposition to ongoing facility proposals in neighboring areas, such as the City of Industry and Vernon, where residents fear regional utility cost increases and environmental impact.