The AI Center Controversy Has Made It to San Diego County

Poway has joined other cities around the U.S. that want to block AI data centers from coming to their area. Bret Burkhart and Veronica Carter spoke with the mayor of Poway, Steve Vaus.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A city in San Diego County has joined other cities
around the country that want to ban those huge AI
data centers. Last week, the Poway City Council voted unanimously
to draft an ordinance to block data centers from being
developed in the city.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
On the Cogon Newes liveline is the Mayor of Poway,
Steve Voss, joining us on the San Diego Morning News.
Thank you so much for joining.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
Us, Steve, Well, you bet, thanks for having me, all.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Right, mister mayor. So what led to this? Was there
some sort of AI data center proposal for Poway?

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Yeah, you know, we're watching the landscape and frankly the
same way we uh before we see flames come over
the hill from a wildfire, we plan for that, and
we plan our land use with an eye for the
future as well. And this just seemed the logical stuff.
We love welcoming innovative businesses that strengthen the community and

(00:53):
create jobs. But standalone AI data centers, with their match
a thirst for water and power and the noise they generate,
they're just not the right fit for our city.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Have you been hearing from people who live in this
city about what they think.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
This is probably the most popular thing we've proposed since
the statue that we created for our hometown hero tony Wynn. Wow.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
First off, I didn't know Tony gwyn was from there.
That's great. AI data centers, though, also can bring jobs
to an area, and the power is not necessarily generated
from Powway itself, isn't it from SDG and E?

Speaker 3 (01:38):
Well? Number one in the jobs they create are very
temporary when they're constructed, and then all those people go
away and build a purpose built AI data center somewhere else.
We want long term jobs and we want businesses that
strengthen the community. The power we've seen nationwide AI data

(01:59):
centers have caused to utility rates to increase, water used
to increase and it's just not a good fit for Powaie.
It's a land used to say, and nothing more, nothing less.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
We're talking to the mayor of Poway, Steve Boss. Now
here's the question. You know a lot of cities are saying, no,
we don't want you. Where do you think that they
should put these big AI centers.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
I've read where somebody posed that question to AI itself
and it said far from people, and I would have
to agree with that. I'm sure, they will find a
technology will likely change and they'll find places that are
more suitable. All we're saying is it's not Poway. Some
mayors talk about, well, we'll take the revenue and all

(02:44):
that stuff. To us, some things are worth more than money.
In Poway, our community character is one of them.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
How about like Oklahoma or Nevada, or some are hot
and desolate with nothing but dirt exactly.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
I know we joke, but do you anticipate other cities
taking following suit with Palai's a stance.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Well, you know, I was frankly surprised that we're the
first one in the county, only the second one in
the state to make such a move. But you know,
our focus is purely how wake we didn't become one
a California's most desirable communities by chasing every new use
that comes knocking. You got to know when to say no,
and this was one of those times for us.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, this is a similar argument against prisons. You know,
I remember when everybody was fighting against having prisons located.
It'll be interesting to see what happens if other cities
fallse suit. Mayor. We thank you so much for joining
us today. Thank you Mayor, thanks for having me all right,
Mayor of Poway's d boss