California

Energy/Power is the dominant stressor: the core fight is over whether large data centers will force transmission and generation upgrades that should not hit ordinary ratepayers. Water/Geology is the second major strain, especially in desert and Bay Area siting fights where residents cite cooling-water use and drought conditions. CalMatters, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times

None identified. No clearly documented 2026 California federal, statewide, or local candidate race was found where data centers are a central campaign issue; the clearest electoral fight is Monterey Park’s June 2 special election on Measure NDC, not a candidate race. Monterey Park city data center page, Ballotpedia’s 2026 ballot-measures roundup

No statewide moratorium or ban has been enacted in California as of May 2026. The clearest local actions are Monterey Park’s 45-day moratorium adopted Jan. 21, 2026 and later extended to 10 months 15 days while the city pursued a citywide prohibition, and Oakley’s 45-day moratorium adopted in April 2026 because of energy and water concerns; Oakley officials said state law allows extensions up to two years. Monterey Park city data center page, San Francisco Chronicle

California’s 2026 ratepayer/cost-allocation push is led by SB 886 by Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), which would require the CPUC to create a special tariff so data centers fully pay transmission and grid-upgrade costs, and SB 1168 by Sen. Jerry McNerney, which directs the CPUC to examine data centers’ excessive energy use so Californians do not face rate hikes. Padilla’s SB 887 would tie accelerated CEQA treatment to data-center-specific clean-energy, water, and full-infrastructure-cost commitments. Sen. Steve Padilla, Sen. Jerry McNerney, POLITICO, CalMatters

Monterey Park Measure NDC is on the June 2, 2026 special-election ballot to prohibit data centers citywide. Ballotpedia’s 2026 roundup also says California is one of four states with 2026 local ballot measures related to data centers, but Monterey Park is the clearly identified California measure in the search results. Monterey Park city data center page, Ballotpedia news roundup

1) Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing data center — Imperial County, near the city of Imperial — proposed 950,000-square-foot AI facility; heavily contested, CEQA exemption disputed, city lawsuit filed, community opposition organized. 2) Saturn Park / Monterey Park proposed data center — Monterey Park — sparked moratorium and citywide prohibition ballot measure; status effectively contested and headed to voters. 3) Bridgehead Industrial Project data center concept — Oakley, Contra Costa County — developer reportedly withdrew data-center plans amid opposition before the city moratorium, leaving the site’s data-center status uncertain. Los Angeles Times, Monterey Park city data center page, San Francisco Chronicle

Not in My Backyard Imperial; No Data Center MPK; Imperial Valley Equity and Justice; local Monterey Park resident coalitions backing Measure NDC; TURN (The Utility Reform Network) as a co-sponsor on ratepayer legislation. Los Angeles Times, Monterey Park city data center page, Sen. Steve Padilla

Inclusion criteria satisfied: Construction labor. CA building trades positions on Bay Area and Central Valley hyperscale buildouts; SB-X data center labor provisions where applicable. Primary-source verification pending — full content in v1.2. Sub-state and labor-market analysis available in the full RAIL briefing.

Major hub. California is home to hundreds of facilities; one 2026 Los Angeles Times report said Data Center Map listed 289 facilities in the state, and the CEC does not track the total officially. Los Angeles Times

“The tariff will ensure electrical grid investments for data centers are fully recovered to ensure other ratepayers do not end up footing the bill,” Sen. Steve Padilla’s office said in announcing SB 886. Sen. Steve Padilla

Monterey Park Data Center Information, San Francisco Chronicle on Oakley moratorium, Los Angeles Times on Imperial County opposition, Sen. Steve Padilla on SB 886/SB 887, Sen. Jerry McNerney 2026 legislative package, Ballotpedia 2026 ballot measures