As AI data center backlash grows, Patterson and Riverbank hit pause

Key Takeaways

USA Today reports rising nationwide opposition to AI data centers, with 120 projects delayed or blocked in early 2026.
Patterson extended a moratorium on new data centers through July 15, 2027.
Riverbank adopted a 45-day moratorium in September and will weigh an extension on Oct. 13.
Modesto Irrigation District says large-load customers must fund impact studies and protections for ratepayers.

Fifty-four percent of Americans now say data centers are bad for the environment, up from 39% in January, according to a USA Today piece that also tallied at least 120 projects delayed or blocked nationwide in the first half of 2026. The story cites tighter state actions too, like New York’s one‑year pause on hyperscale centers using 50 megawatts or more. It frames the fights as local, often loud, and increasingly political as fall ballots approach.

The national picture matters here because developers knock on doors in mid‑sized markets when coastal sites get tight or costly. When they come, they bring big power draws, water questions and tax‑break asks. That lands squarely on Central Valley councils and utilities, not far‑off regulators.

Where this lands in the Valley

A 45‑day pause, then ten months more. Patterson’s council first adopted a short moratorium on July 16, then voted Aug. 18 to extend it through July 15, 2027, while the city writes rules for any future proposals. Riverbank followed with its own 45‑day moratorium on Sept. 8 and noticed a public hearing for Oct. 13 to consider stretching that pause another 10 months and 15 days under state law. The moves don’t kill projects, city attorneys say, but they buy time to size up water use, noise, and who covers grid upgrades.

Modesto isn’t weighing a project at the dais yet, but staff published a plain‑English FAQ and residents have pressed the council to add a pause. The through‑line is the same question heard in other Valley towns: are the jobs and taxes real, and do they outweigh the utility and land‑use costs.

What local utilities say

Modesto Irrigation District, which would serve any large Modesto build, briefed its board last month. Staff said big prospective customers must pay for large‑load studies that map out substation or generation needs and must agree to terms that protect existing ratepayers before any hookup. That’s the frame many councils asked for first, not promises on job counts. But the bigger fight is over who pays for power.

Regionally, SMUD documents and developer materials show Sacramento‑area sites gathering interest, including McClellan Park, while national analysts warn the next crop of facilities will pull even more electricity than those opening this year. That is the same grid California’s farm counties rely on for packing houses and cold storage.

What to watch next

The USA Today piece notes 35 ballot measures tied to data centers on November ballots across several states, and it highlights polling that shows opposition rising across party lines. For Valley readers, the immediate markers are closer: a Riverbank extension vote on Oct. 13, continued Patterson rulemaking, and whether Modesto moves from FAQ to formal policy. One green Gatorade bottle sat under the council table at a recent meeting, untouched.

Central Valley AI is produced by the CVAI Newsdesk team and developed by Kaweah Tech, a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.

Source

https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/business/article317459405.html