Thank you for supporting this petition that advocates on behalf of the citizens of Gilroy.

Tonight we bring the initial results of this petition to the City Council meeting which will begin at 6p PST.

If you are able, please join me ahead of the meeting at 5p the Gilroy Library to connect with other supporters and create posters. RSVP and share: https://www.facebook.com/events/1567767957710507

As this petition has amassed hundreds of signatures and thousands of views in a matter of days, I have further researched the Amazon Web Services Gilroy Data Center project and the impacts of data centers on communities, only raising more questions and concerns.

With this said, I am sharing the public comment I'll make this evening, which outlines three key questions City Council has a responsibility to answer. 

Good evening to my neighbors on the Council, in the gallery, and viewing online, 

My name is Britt Smith and I first moved to Gilroy in 2001 to reside in the home my father purchased in 1979. I attended Ascencion Solorsano Middle School, was an exchange student ambassador to our sister city in Takko-Machi, Japan, and graduated from Gilroy High School in 2011.

Though I have moved for educational and career pursuits, I have always considered Gilroy to be my home, returning often and most recently moving back in 2024. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to witness the work of this council, and I want to take a moment to recognize your collective contributions to our community.

Tonight I am here in regards to the Gilroy Data Center project, reported on by the Gilroy Dispatch on November 13, 2025. 

The article details the project plan, approved on July 3, 2025 by City of Gilroy Community Development Director Sharon Goei. The 92-page approval of the Architectural and Site Review Permit sent by Ms. Goei, residing in the East Bay, to Amazon’s Program Manager Noel Yetter, residing in Seattle, Washington, outlines the project as a 218,000-square-foot data center, that “will have a significant effect on the environment” though does not answer the following questions:

What is the projected daily water usage for this facility in gallons?
This information is not cited in the EIR nor in the approval email. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, in 2025 it was reported that centers of a similar scale “can consume up to 5 million gallons per day, equivalent to the water use of a town populated by [up to] 50,000 people.” That’s over 1.8 billion gallons annually used by a single facility, over 60% of what the rest of Gilroy uses annually.

What are the risks associated with water safety, including human health and agricultural productivity?
The Valley Water response to the DEIR by Ms. Gloria Sciara notes “groundwater supplies are affected by both recharge and from groundwater pumping. There is no explanation [in the draft] about groundwater use by the project and whether that use will affect groundwater supplies.” In their response, the City of Gilroy notes that there was no adjustment made to the draft and took no additional action.

The project site is above the Llagas Subbasin, an 87-square-mile groundwater reserve that extends from Morgan Hill in the north to the Pájaro River bordering Hollister in the south.

How would the City of Gilroy be responsible for an emergency should one occur on the site? 
As of 2019 the City of Gilroy Fire Department did not have adequate staffing, continues to be understaffed as of 2026, currently unable to meet City Council’s response time goal.

The data center will use lithium ion batteries on site, which can take days or weeks to extinguish, as evident in the 2025 Moss Landing Vistra Power Plant Fire which took place less than 30 miles away.

Fumes from data center fires contain debris and chemicals that can immediately impact air quality and increases long-term risks for illnesses, disease, and fertility.

On behalf of 250* signees, I ask that these three key questions be answered by the Council at the January 26, 2026 meeting. I look forward to collaborating and once again thank you for serving our community.

*Number of signees noted is at time of writing. I will adjust the count accordingly to be accurate at time of speaking.