Home / Environment / Monterey Park Data Center Sparks Resident Backlash
Monterey Park Data Center Sparks Resident Backlash
4 Dec
Summary
- Residents voiced concerns over pollution and noise from a proposed data center.
- Union workers supported the project, citing potential job creation during construction.
- The city council will review the data center proposal again on January 20, 2026.
A significant data center project proposed for Monterey Park has encountered strong opposition from local residents concerned about environmental impacts. The plan involves converting a vacant office space into a 250,000-square-foot facility essential for powering digital services like social media and AI.
Community members voiced anxieties regarding potential physical and noise pollution, with one long-time resident expressing these specific worries. Experts suggest such facilities should be located away from residential areas due to demands on electricity and water for cooling, alongside potential environmental effects.
Conversely, union laborers have shown support for the initiative, anticipating that the construction phase will generate employment opportunities. The Monterey Park City Council is set to reconsider this contentious proposal on January 20, 2026, leaving the project's future uncertain.
