Not every data center is 'AI,' UCSD expert says as Kings, Tulare weigh plans
In a FOX26 interview, UC San Diego's Eric Masanet said edge facilities differ from large AI campuses and communities should ask about size, power, water and cooling.
Not every data center is 'AI,' UCSD expert says as Kings, Tulare weigh plans
Key Takeaways
- UC San Diego’s Eric Masanet told FOX26 that not all data centers are AI-focused, and edge sites differ in scale and demand.
- Kings and Tulare fairgrounds have discussed proposals for small edge data centers from Global Stack.
- Masanet said residents should ask about size, power, water, cooling technology and transparency before any vote.
- A March 2026 Little Hoover Commission report pressed California to update data center rules and assess grid costs.
The question keeps landing at fair board microphones from Tulare to Hanford: is every proposed data center an AI data center. In a FOX26 segment, UC San Diego sustainability chair Eric Masanet said the term covers a wide range, from a server room with a few racks to sprawling AI campuses. For Central Valley readers, that matters because local boards are looking at smaller “edge” sites at county fairgrounds, not vast AI campuses.
What the expert said
Masanet told FOX26 that an edge data center sits near end users to cut delay, and it can have a high draw but “nothing like” the massive AI campuses. He urged communities to focus less on labels and more on what a facility would actually demand and do. Ask about size, power, water and cooling, he said, plus how open the operator will be with data. And who will answer when the lights flicker.
Why it matters here
Boards tied to Kings County Fairgrounds in Hanford and Tulare County Fairgrounds have heard a pitch from Santa Ana firm Global Stack for edge-computing sites paired with parking and emergency features. The company has surfaced similar proposals at other California fairgrounds, according to public records and press accounts reviewed this month. A Business Journal report detailed Tulare’s debate and noted the plan in the 8 to 10 megawatt range, far short of hyperscale projects. One small observation from a fair office counter: a ballpoint pen with blue tape on the cap.
The questions boards can ask
Local officials can borrow Masanet’s checklist. What is the megawatt load, hourly and peak. Will cooling rely on evaporative water systems or air, and how much water would be used in a dry summer. What grid upgrades are required, who pays for them, and what is the backup generation plan. The state’s Little Hoover Commission in March urged clearer data center siting rules and a closer look at electricity costs, which could land on ratepayers if projects are rushed.
What’s on the table in the Valley
Records and meeting coverage show Global Stack floated a “sovereign edge” concept at multiple sites statewide, including Kings and Tulare. Separate reporting counted at least eight fairgrounds in discussions across California, suggesting any Central Valley vote would not be happening in isolation. If a board advances a lease, residents can ask for plain-English disclosures on load, water, hours, noise, security and emergency access before a signature.
"The reason we call them edge data centers is because they're located at the edge of the internet network, really close to end user applications," Masanet said.
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.