Voters in Monterey Park, California, have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure banning data centers throughout the city, creating what is believed to be the first voter-enacted prohibition of its kind in the United States.
Measure NDC received support from roughly 86% of voters, according to election results.
The initiative emerged after a grassroots campaign opposing a proposed 250,000-square-foot hyperscale data center. Community groups argued that such facilities could increase electricity demand, generate noise, and contribute to air quality concerns.
The approved measure establishes a permanent ordinance prohibiting data center development within city limits.
Town Bans Data Centers Permanently In Landslide Ballot Measure: 'First in the US' https://t.co/IOaeQv5BhY
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 4, 2026
According to the report, the restriction cannot be reversed by a future city council without another public vote, giving residents direct control over any potential policy change.
The debate effectively ended earlier this year when developer HMC StratCap withdrew its application for the proposed project.
While local activists celebrated the outcome as a victory for community interests, industry groups criticized the decision, arguing it could limit future economic development and investment opportunities.
Organizers behind the campaign have indicated they may oppose similar projects in neighboring communities, signaling that resistance to large-scale data center development could spread across parts of Southern California.
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TIPP Staff
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TIPP Staff
