HomeMy WebLinkAboutConcerns of the Data Center at the Puente Hills Mall SiteCAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Hello,
It has come to my attention that the City of Industry is considering demolishing the Puentes Hills Mall due to the declining profitability and replacing it with a data center.
Before moving forward with such a significant decision that will not only affect the City of Industry but also the surrounding communities. I urge you to ask an important question: Is
this truly the smartest choice for the long-term benefit of our community and the surrounding cities? The answer is no.
While data centers play an important role in today’s digital economy, they also bring serious environmental and community concerns. These facilities are harmful due to their high energy
and water consumption, pollution, and negative impacts on local communities. Cities and neighborhoods such as Rowland Heights, La Puente, Walnut, La Habra Heights, West Covina, La
Habra, Diamond Bar, and other nearby unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County could all be affected by these impacts.
Given the close proximity of this proposed site to residential communities and two school districts headquartered and multiple children centers, it is essential to carefully evaluate
the environmental, economic, and public consequences before proceeding.
Please refer to the attached maps, which illustrate how close the proposed location is to neighboring cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County:
Please refer to the attached maps, which illustrate two school districts headquarters:
Please refer to the attached maps, which illustrate the multiple children centers: :
Environmental Impact:
“Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity, accounting for about 4% of U.S. electricity usage in 2023, with projections rising to 6–12% by 2030. They also require vast quantities
of water for cooling—up to 5 million gallons per day for a single large facility, equivalent to the daily water use of a town of 50,000 people. This heavy resource demand can strain
local utilities and deplete water tables, as seen near Meta’s data center in Georgia. Additionally, the construction of data centers often requires large land areas, sometimes displacing
farms or natural habitats.” - Conimby <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fconimby.org%2fblog%2f2025%2f09%2f12%2fthe-real-safety-risks-of-data-centers-what-local-communities-need-to
-know%2f&c=E,1,bt3_hDfp2IWhO0kMNOhYmkT3NkZZwvuJmGlvwLJ6kZAmT7sjAmSlrhdIp0LKBBUphb4qOVg7z5j11RKYc5U5xmCcPoA6qx4nW2gt89XxJzaULPuNKlLjDhfg-xlr&typo=1>
Are you aware that the Puente Hills Mall is located directly adjacent to a regional park and in close proximity to at least seven additional public parks? This close relationship to
major recreational and open-space areas raises important concerns about the potential environmental, noise, and infrastructure impacts that a large-scale industrial facility such as
a data center could have on surrounding natural and community spaces.
Additionally, I was personally affected by the Eaton Fire and witnessed firsthand the devastation it caused to the community. Many homes were unable to be saved due to a lack of available
water resources. This experience underscored how critical water availability is during emergencies and raises serious concerns about introducing facilities, such as data centers, that
require significant water consumption in areas already vulnerable to resource shortages.
Please see the following articles that better explain why this is NOT a beneficial idea:
*
Data Centers: Growing Dangers <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2famericanpolicy.org%2f2025%2f07%2f18%2fdata-centers-growing-dangers%2f&c=E,1,GlzQ0VQa93RBqOPhTqI9JNUOUaKubH75Y4uJQ1L
tumvEMEWhBcohhbqZ_bhdW8KExOwtbjSw4PvrBpCvcfRcXZ7JIYx44HkL1_uNQDd--QI,&typo=1>
* WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DATA CENTERS COME TO TOWN <https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf>
*
Data Centers, Pollution, and the Communities Left Behind <https://sustainabilitydialogue.uchicago.edu/news/data-centers-pollution-and-the-communities-left-behind/>
* The Unequal Burden of Data Centers: An Examination of the Environmental and Public Health Impacts on Communities in California <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fkaporfoundation.o
rg%2fdatacenters-envt-health%2f&c=E,1,_PcdHsCedHT35gsyX5hN0VA9k3KVzpeFc9-u4U8Ts_IvGrMe1dQFMdruejSlLippyXPBJ6AT0SJhApzFKG1y7yQtP0p-hHxUZZq5y79-8lHYc_JSqw,,&typo=1>
* THE COSTS OF DATA CENTERS TO OUR COMMUNITIES <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmediajustice.org%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2025%2f08%2fMediaJustice-Kairos-Organizer-Guide-on-Data-C
enters.pdf&c=E,1,dYC8uyzWhOfy4NUnNXo1I6klFxYzprubduyIPzph2mzroB6rtnL65KjzK4JWzzJ_P4BLC30YY4vbbQaDJsI4HOXRuuwcS1LvHLxpbc7o&typo=1>
* The Dark Side of America’s AI Data Center Boom No One Is Talking About <https://youtu.be/4q5mmzdfSrs?si=EEFfeY_74vPAsP0u>
Best,
Maria G. Olivas