Council members make clear: No plans for data center in Redding

In the minutes before Tuesday’s Redding City Council meeting began, the audience of around 80 community members talked amongst themselves, many sharing the same topic of conversation: data centers. 

It was revealed a few days prior that Circle 6 Consulting, the firm hired to conduct an efficiency study on the city, was recommending that the council consider a data center project in Redding, among other suggestions, to improve city finances. 

During Circle 6 principal Nathan Sprague’s presentation at the council chambers last night, he breezed over the slide about the data center recommendation, clearly aware of the community’s pushback.

“[I] can hear the groans before I start talking about this one,” he said when the slide appeared. “Believe me, I’m not going to stand here and wave pom poms in the air for a data center, but there is a business case for it. 

“But clearly, the business case for a data center has to be reconciled with the will of the community.” 

Several community members spoke after Sprague’s presentation in opposition to the idea of a data center in Redding, including Susan Weiss, who said areas like Redding are often the target of data centers because they’re rural and face financial issues.

“[It’d] be really easy to say that that’s our solution,” she said. “But trust me, our property values, our health risks, our quality of life, our environmental effects on the flora and fauna of our area, nothing’s worth it. No amount of money is worth all that.” 

Multiple council members also shut down the idea of a data center in Redding, making clear after the public comment period that they did not support such a project. Council member Dr. Paul Dhanuka said he believes the city should be more focused on expanding education and health care, not data centers. 

“I would rather build those infrastructure basic needs that we all have, for our people, before saying anything to support any data center for tech billionaires,” he said before the audience erupted in applause and cheers. 

Mayor Mike Littau chimed in, saying he doesn’t think a data center is a viable option because it requires space the city doesn’t have, wouldn’t create jobs for the community and would use a significant amount of electricity.

“I think it’s important that we remain focused on Redding’s opportunities that really match everything about us,” he said, “as far as our land and all our resources and … what the community really wants.” He also posted on Facebook before the meeting to explain why he doesn’t see a data center to be the right fit for Redding.

Council member Erin Resner agreed with other council members, saying data centers are not a viable industry for the community for many reasons. And when it came time for the council to vote to accept Circle 6’s report, Council member Tenessa Audette accepted it, but only “sans data centers.” 

Opposition to the idea of a data center coming to Redding was one that united community members across the political spectrum. Leslie Sawyer, a political activist who frequently speaks at city and county meetings, thanked Sprague for finding a way to bring locals together on something.

“All sides of the aisle hate [data centers], and nobody agrees on anything in Shasta County,” she said as the audience and council members laughed. “If you thought the alternative custody program location was bad, bring an AI data center here. You’ll see us unite, which would be great.” 

Another community member, Kathy Grissom, told the council she was one of the originators of a petition to ban data centers in Shasta County, noting that it’s received more than 1,500 signatures so far. 

Earlier this year, the council approved spending up to $300,000 on the efficiency study at the request of late City Manager William Tarbox. The consulting firm hired to conduct the study was intended to find ways to increase “efficiency and accountability while decreasing waste,” according to a staff report from when the study was approved. 

Last night, the council followed up Sprague’s presentation with questions, including how the city would work to implement the changes and other specifics about the study’s findings. They then formally accepted Sprague’s report before agreeing to have a special meeting to discuss the study’s recommendations sometime in the coming weeks. The meeting will be intended to determine the council’s priorities and create strategic plans on how to accomplish their goals.

---

Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.