The useful question is what changes for users, developers or buyers, and whether the announcement stays industry context or becomes something people can actually use.

On June 15, Caltech convened local leaders, researchers, and stakeholders at the Resnick Sustainability Center for a workshop examining how AI data centers affect California communities. Facilitator Sara Kassir, research policy lead at Caltech’s LCSSP, emphasized the variability of data center impacts, noting that suitability depends heavily on local context. Organized by LCSSP, the Resnick Sustainability Institute, and the Caltech Science Exchange, the event aimed to bridge scientific insights with practical decision-making for regional officials.

The workshop featured six presentations covering national debates, California’s policy landscape, health and infrastructure effects, and public opinion on data centers. Local officials participated in open discussions, sharing firsthand experiences with proposals that often lack clear state or federal guidance. Data centers are projected to consume up to 12 percent of U.S. electricity by 2028, raising concerns about strain on local resources and infrastructure.

A case study from Monterey Park highlighted community resistance to a data center proposal located 65 feet from residential areas, far below the 1,500-foot guideline. Residents voted 86 percent in favor of a ballot measure restricting such projects in 2026. Attorney Doug Carstens and Mayor Elizabeth Yang discussed the legal and political dynamics that shaped the outcome, illustrating the challenges local governments face in regulating these facilities.

Caltech’s Adam Wierman presented findings on data center impacts, including increased power-outage risks, higher utility rates, and disproportionate health effects in low-income communities. He also outlined potential benefits, such as on-site energy storage to reduce health risks and partnerships with local infrastructure through adaptive cooling and waste-heat utilization. The workshop concluded with research on how voter attitudes toward data centers shift based on perceived impacts, underscoring the need for informed local leadership.