FAIRFIELD DATA CENTER PROTECTION PROPOSAL

PLAN FIRST. APPROVE SECOND.

PROPOSED — FOR COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Fairfield currently does not have development standards specifically addressing data centers as a distinct land use.

Data centers can bring investment, construction activity, tax revenue, and economic opportunities to our community. They can also create significant impacts involving electricity, water, noise, backup generators, infrastructure, emergency services, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Before Fairfield approves major data centers, the City should establish clear standards governing where they can be located, how their impacts will be addressed, and who will be responsible for infrastructure required to serve them.

This proposal is not intended to prohibit data centers.

It is intended to establish reasonable standards before major projects are approved—providing certainty for residents, businesses, developers, and City decision-makers.

THE PRINCIPLE IS SIMPLE

Fairfield does not have to choose between economic development and protecting our community.

We can welcome responsible investment while requiring major projects to demonstrate that they will protect surrounding neighborhoods, responsibly use community resources, pay their appropriate share of infrastructure costs, and remain compatible with Travis Air Force Base.

FOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS

Major data centers operate 24 hours a day. Cooling equipment, fans, transformers, substations, and other mechanical equipment can create persistent noise, including the low-frequency or tonal “hum” associated with some facilities.

Fairfield should establish meaningful separation between major data centers and homes, schools, hospitals, senior facilities, and other sensitive uses.

2. PROTECT OUR RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Before approval, Fairfield should know exactly how much electricity and water a proposed facility will require and what new infrastructure will be necessary to support it.

Existing Fairfield residents and businesses should not be expected to subsidize infrastructure required primarily for a major data center.

3. PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY

Major facilities should undergo comprehensive Fairfield Fire Department review addressing generators, fuel storage, battery systems, hazardous materials, fire-flow requirements, emergency access, and specialized emergency-response needs.

4. PROTECT TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE

Travis AFB is an essential part of Fairfield.

Major data centers within applicable Travis compatibility areas should receive enhanced review for potential impacts involving flight operations, radar, communications, electrical infrastructure, lighting, building height, and other mission-compatibility concerns.

PLAN FIRST. APPROVE SECOND.

Establish the rules before approving major projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

PROPOSED FAIRFIELD DATA CENTER STANDARDS

 NEIGHBORHOOD SEPARATION

For major data centers, Fairfield should consider a 1,000-foot minimum separation from existing residences, residentially zoned property, schools, hospitals, senior-care facilities, and other designated sensitive uses.

The City should be able to require greater separation when site conditions warrant it, including flat or unobstructed terrain where noise may travel significant distances.

Meeting the minimum setback should not automatically establish compliance with noise requirements.

ADDRESS THE “HUM”

Require independent acoustic analysis before approval that evaluates:

Traditional dBA noise
dBC measurements
Low-frequency noise
Tonal noise
Octave-band frequencies
Cooling equipment
Transformers and substations
Generators and other mechanical equipment
Require baseline testing before construction and post-construction testing after normal operations begin.

A starting nighttime standard for consideration should be 45 dBA at residential property lines, together with specific protections addressing low-frequency and tonal noise.

The City should also consider limiting increases above existing nighttime ambient noise levels.

WATER

Large data centers should disclose:

Daily use • Annual use • Peak use • Drought-year use • Water source • Cooling technology

Fairfield should prioritize low-water, closed-loop, reclaimed-water, and other water-efficient cooling technologies where feasible.

ELECTRICITY

Applicants should disclose the facility's anticipated electrical demand and all infrastructure required to serve it, including:

Substations • Transmission improvements • Generators • Battery systems • Future expansion

FAIRFIELD TAXPAYERS

Existing Fairfield residents and businesses should not subsidize infrastructure required primarily to serve a data center.

To the extent permitted by law, developers should pay their appropriate share of project-driven infrastructure costs.

GENERATORS

Routine generator testing should generally occur:

Monday–Friday • 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Routine testing should generally be limited to two hours per day, except when additional testing is legally or operationally required.

The City should consider restrictions on simultaneous testing of large banks of generators.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Require Fairfield Fire Department review addressing:

Battery storage • Fuel storage • Hazardous materials • Fire flow • Emergency access • Specialized equipment and training

PROTECT TRAVIS

Major data centers within applicable Travis AFB compatibility areas should undergo enhanced Travis AFB Mission Compatibility Review.

Projects should be evaluated for potential effects involving:

Flight operations • Radar • Communications • Building height • Construction cranes • Lighting • Electrical infrastructure • Substations • Other mission-sensitive operations

REQUIRE PUBLIC REVIEW

Large data centers should not simply be permitted by right.

Major projects should receive public review before the Fairfield Planning Commission, with the largest projects also receiving City Council consideration.

ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER APPROVAL

Large facilities should provide ongoing reporting concerning:

Water use • Electricity use • Generator operations • Noise compliance • Significant operational changes

Significant expansion should trigger additional City review.

PLAN FIRST. APPROVE SECOND.

Protect our neighborhoods. Protect our infrastructure. Protect Travis.