Rage against the machine: a California community rallied against a datacenter and won

"Through a frenetic word-of-mouth campaign, the small group raised awareness about the proposed facility in Monterey Park, a small city east of Los Angeles known affectionately as the country's first suburban Chinatown. No Data Center Monterey Park organizers working in tandem with the grassroots racial justice group San Gabriel Valley (SGV) Progressive Action held a teach-in and rally that drew hundreds of participants, knocked on doors, and distributed flyers on busy streets."

"They emphasized how the computer systems facility would strain the power grid, drive up energy rates and create noise pollution. A petition quickly amassed nearly 5,000 signatures. All the materials were shared in English, Chinese and Spanish a concerted effort to reach Monterey Park's diverse populace, which is two-thirds Asian and one-quarter Hispanic. In just six weeks, the community won. City leaders issued a 45-day moratorium on datacenter construction and a pledge to explore a permanent ban."

"Over the past year, homegrown revolts against datacenters have united a fractured nation, animating local board meetings from coast to coast in both farming towns and middle-class suburbs. Local communities delayed or cancelled $98bn worth of projects from late March 2025 to June 2025, according to research from the group Data Center Watch, which has been tracking opposition to the sites since 2023. More than 50 active groups across 17 states targeted 30 projects during that time period, two-thirds of which were halted."

A southern California city proposed a datacenter the size of four football fields in Monterey Park. Five residents formed No Data Center Monterey Park and, with SGV Progressive Action, led a frenetic, multilingual campaign including a teach-in, rally, door-knocking and flyer distribution that drew hundreds and gathered nearly 5,000 petition signatures. Organizers warned the facility would strain the power grid, raise energy rates and create noise pollution. City leaders imposed a 45-day moratorium on datacenter construction and pledged to consider a permanent ban. Nationwide opposition delayed or cancelled about $98bn in projects between late March and June 2025.

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