Pittsburg approved plans in 2024 for the "Pittsburg Technology Park," which includes AVAIO Digital's proposed 337,000-square-foot Perseus Data Center on the former Delta View golf course. Residents say they were misled by the approval language and are pushing for a moratorium, citing proximity to homes and schools, noise, and resource concerns. AVAIO says the design uses closed-loop cooling, will occupy about 22 of 76 acres, and expects under 4,000 gallons/day of water use; city officials highlight possible annual revenues of $1.36 million in property taxes and broader benefits of $6–8 million per year.
Pittsburg Residents Say 'Technology Park' Approval Hid 337,000‑Sq‑Ft Data Center — Calls For Moratorium Grow
Photo Credit: City of Pittsburg
Plans approved in 2024 for a development labeled the "Pittsburg Technology Park" have ignited local opposition after residents learned the project centers on a large data center they say was not made clear during the approval process. The proposed AVAIO Digital Perseus Data Center would occupy a substantial footprint on the former Delta View golf course and has prompted calls for a pause while the community seeks greater transparency.
Project Details
According to reporting by CBS News Bay Area, the Perseus Data Center is proposed to cover roughly 337,000 square feet on the 76-acre site of the abandoned Delta View golf course. AVAIO Digital says the data center itself would sit on about 22 of the 76 acres and frames the plan as a redevelopment of a dry, unused parcel with a history of wildfire incidents.
Community Reaction
Opponents, organized in groups such as Stop Pittsburg Data Center, say approval language was misleading and that many residents only learned the scale and nature of the project after the fact. At a packed city meeting, more than 60 people spoke. Critics cited concerns about proximity to homes and schools, environmental impacts, noise, and demands on local power and water systems.
"Don't want it here in Pittsburg. It's unfortunate we're finding out two years later its approval, and I feel like that goes into the language. It was really misleading," said Amhari Perkins, a Pittsburg native and co-organizer of Stop Pittsburg Data Center.
"More personal for me, you know just being a property owner, my kids going to school right down the street a little over a mile from the projected facility. Knowing there's a middle school right across the way ... I'm just not okay with that," Perkins added.
Company Response
AVAIO Digital has said the design addresses many resident concerns. The company told CBS News Bay Area the site will use a closed-loop cooling design that consumes no water for cooling and estimated total water usage of less than 4,000 gallons per day. AVAIO also said non-potable water use would be 100% recycled water and that the campus would include low-noise fans and sound-reducing structures to minimize disruption.
City Response and Economic Case
City officials noted Pittsburg sold the parcel for more than $10 million. Officials estimate the city could receive about $1.36 million annually in property taxes from the development, with total yearly revenue potentially reaching $6 million to $8 million. City Manager Darin Gale said the city is forming a community advisory committee and emphasized that later phases would require separate notifications, reviews, and environmental assessments; he also noted phase one has not yet reached the building permit review stage.
Where Things Stand
Opponents are calling for a moratorium to allow time for fuller public outreach and review. City leaders acknowledge shortcomings in outreach and say they will try to do better; residents say they want assurances that community health, local environmental protections, and school safety are prioritized as development moves forward.
Why it matters: The Pittsburg debate mirrors a nationwide conversation as communities weigh the economic benefits of data-center investment against local environmental impacts, resource demands, and trust in municipal decision-making.
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