Data centers

Opposed hyperscale AI data centers, demanding public accounting of infrastructure costs, environmental protections, and campaign contribution disclosures.

Acknowledged Supervisor Escobar admitting error on the lot merger, urged the Board to call a special election on data centers, and questioned whether Dr. Lang withheld a GIS report from the Board for seven months.

Praised the planned McCabe Elementary school and 1,600-home development as a win for local jobs and education, and urged the county to prioritize permanent community benefits over data centers and lithium.

Cited the judge's ruling overturning the lot merger approval and resignations of county officials, warned against gambling the county's future on data centers, and called for a special election to ban them.

Announced a court victory over a data center developer, called for a full ban on data centers in the valley, and demanded the board and county leadership resign.

Opposed the committee entirely, calling it government waste and political cover, and demanded a ban on industrial-scale data centers with full public accountability.

In general public comment, she connected data centers to threats against bees — Westmoreland is the honey capital per capita — citing EMF stress, heat islands and a halted Meta data center project.

Demanded Supervisor Kelley account for over $150 million tied to Lithium Valley, called for the Board to stop processing data centers and release records, and referenced a town hall where attendees raised hands saying they don't trust the Board.

Argued the valley's economy funnels public wealth to private interests and suggested simply defining and banning hyperscale data centers.

Vice chair of the Boulevard Planning Group linked AI data centers to mass surveillance via Flock cameras and ICE data sharing, raising Fourth Amendment concerns.

A Quechan and Lakota tribal member urged consultation on sacred sites and opposed development that ignores tribal voices and limited water.

Questioned claims of ample water, citing drying lakes and the Colorado River crisis, and asked who would actually build and operate the data center.

Argued the county cannot spare water for data centers given Colorado River shortages, and dismissed promised job creation as unfulfilled.

Supported a moratorium but cautioned against a total ban, which invites lawsuits; suggested IBEW legal advisors help craft ordinances.

Delivered an extended critique linking AI data centers to military applications and foreign policy, and urged opposition to the resolution.

Said the Sierra Club lawsuit validates his cure-and-correct demand, questioned the missing $10 million Lithium Valley grant records, and raised conflict-of-interest claims about data center backers.

Criticized the lot merger vote, demanded a 45-day moratorium under Gov. Code 65858, and said data centers should be banned outright.

Announced she submitted an agenda request for a June 16 moratorium vote and questioned the Board's constitutional reasoning on the lot merger.

Asked the Board to put the data center question on the November ballot, noting several cities have already passed moratoriums.