HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.05.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Public comment for Aug 5th 2026 Water Commision mtg - Resolution request.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
attachments, clicking on links, or replying..
From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod;
Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Cannon, Jamie; DSPlanning; Daneluk, Paula
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Public comment for Aug 5th 2026 Water Commision mtg - Resolution request
Date:Thursday, August 6, 2026 8:17:58 AM
Attachments:26-07-25-ResolutionDataCenters.pdf
image001.png
Please see Board Correspondence -
Lewis LeeAdministrative Technician - ConfidentialButte County Administration25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965T: 530.552.3326www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov
From: P Hironimus <phironimus@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 6:37 PM
To: BCWater <BCWaterFrontDeskHG@buttecounty.ca.gov>; bcwater@buttecounty.gov; Clerk of the
Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>; clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.gov; P Hironimus
<phironimus@gmail.com>; Carmen (mum) <carmen.hironimus@gmail.com>
Subject: Public comment for Aug 5th 2026 Water Commision mtg - Resolution request
Dear Water Commissioners and Board of Supervisors,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today at the Aug 5th water commision meeting.
Since the public response to the agenda item 4b was so great, and the public comment
was reduced to 1 min per speaker instead of the posted agenda time of 3 minutes per
speaker, we didn't have the opportunity to express our views completely. Therefore, as
we were directed, we are sending this follow up email with our full public comment as
prepared.
As we all know, our water in Butte County is precious and necessary for our unique flora
and fauna, as well as our best defense against wildfire. We are extremely vulnerable
being at the headwaters of the state water project for tech companies to prey upon.
As demand for AI infrastructure grows nationally, Butte County's lack of a regulatory
framework in development services makes it a potential target for much larger facilities
to prey upon.
One (1) AI data center uses up to 5 million gallons of water a day, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency. Using the internet to find out the exact water usage is
a bit like putting a fox in charge of guarding the hen house.
What we know is that closed loop systems relies on a cocktail of additives such as
corrosion inhibitors, biocides, and antifreeze blends to keep water doing its job. They
stop rust, starve microbes, and move heat off chips with high efficiency. Due to our
previous environmental injustices in Butte County, we cannot afford to poison our
groundwater any further. It appears we have our fair share of toxic dioxin plumes
already. Research Institute projects that data centers could consume up to 9.1 % of US
electricity by 2030, driven by AI demands (carboncredits.com).
So here are the questions from a couple of beneficial groundwater users/concerned
constituents in Oroville. If an AI data center were allowed to be built here in Butte
County:
Where will you find the funds to compensate for the increased damage (pollution and
drought) inflicted on domestic wells?
How are you planning on compensating the Butte County cattle ranchers for their still
born livestock?
Is Butte County prepared to compensate for losses incurred by overconsumption and
domestic well, drinking water, and groundwater contamination?
How would this decision affect the property values of homes in Butte County?
In other counties, that have allowed AI data centers home owners cannot sell their
homes due to lack of water pressure, noise pollution, light pollution, and other health
hazards. Add to this, the mass migration out of Butte County, by the people who can
afford to move. The constituents who cannot afford to move will be left, without
resources to contribute to the dwindling economy.
Arson, how many fires have been intentionally set in Butte County in the last 5 years?
Would you prefer to have water to put out a catastrophic wildfire or to cool a
surveillance center?
Where will you find the water to cool and the electricity to power and AI data center?
Where will the water go once it cools the servers?
How will you justify this crime against humanity?
AI data centers pose a grave threat to the health, wealth, and safety of our
communities.
We are asking you to adopt a resolution similar to the one attached so that any applicant
can not request an ordinance change.
We are including the text of the proposed resolution here:
"RESOLUTION OF THE ELKO COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
CONCERNING DATA CENTER POLICIES
WHEREAS, the Elko County Republican Party platform recognizes both the promotion of
economic growth and job creation and the responsible stewardship of Nevada’s natural
resources while strengthening water sustainability; and WHEREAS, many types of Data
Centers have existed successfully and with limited infrastructure, environmental, and
economic impacts for many years in Nevada; and WHEREAS, the State of Nevada
promotes this development through a decade-long tax abatement program; and
WHEREAS, increased interest has been shown by developers in placing Data Centers in
Elko County; and WHEREAS, the term “Data Center” embodies a wide range of facilities
of varying sizes, uses, and infrastructure requirements that prevent simple, “one-size-
fits-all” policies; and WHEREAS, some planned Data Centers (so-called “hypercenters”)
are massively larger than existing facilities with extreme power and water requirements
and with serious potential environmental impacts due to water overuse and pollution,
power overuse, excess heat generation, hazardous materials issues (including lithium-
ion battery storage), audible and low-frequency noise emissions, aesthetic nuisance,
and disruption of wildlife patterns; and WHEREAS, recent experiences in Boulder City
and Yerington, Nevada and in other communities across the nation have demonstrated
both a rush to bring Data Centers online through questionable expedited processes and
with limited to no public oversight and input, antithetical to transparent government;
and WHEREAS, preemptive bans or moratoriums on any data centers deny Elko County
both potential economic benefits and a voice in shaping state-wide policy; and
WHEREAS, potential economic and community benefits must be carefully considered in
relation to the equally likely negative environmental, community, and governmental
financial impact through tax abatements and unrealized promise; BE IT THEREFORE
RESOLVED, the Elko County Republican Party calls on Elko County and all municipal
governments within it to adopt proactive and publicly transparent policies concerning
data center authorization and operation; RESOLVED, We stand opposed to Data Centers
of any type being considered for “by right” or automatic approval without full and public
review by the appropriate governing body for each specific application; RESOLVED, We
vehemently oppose the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and other legal
efforts to hide key information from the public and elected officials as antithetical to
accountable government and consider such actions as prima facie evidence of bad faith
towards the public; RESOLVED, We stand opposed to any county or municipal tax
abatements or special considerations for Data Centers that would not be equally
considered for the numerous small businesses and existing industries in Elko County
and the municipalities within; RESOLVED, We are opposed to the preferential usage of
federal or state public lands for Data Centers, since private lands purchased for such
purposes would generate income for local governments in partial offset of the costs
incurred for development; RESOLVED, We demand that waivers, variances, or other
exemptions from county or municipal codes granted to Data Centers be denied or
severely limited, and that county or municipal codes, especially those concerning power
generation units, generator fuel storage, and backup storage capacity (i.e., batteries) be
followed strictly; RESOLVED, We demand that county and municipal authorities
explicitly mandate in writing with Data Centers and electric and water utility partners
that ‘native load’ and existing residential and community service will be prioritized in
case of strained demand or temporary outage situations; RESOLVED, We call on Elko
County and all municipal governments within it to adopt specific codes concerning Data
Center authorization to ensure all necessary information is available to authorities and
the public, including but not limited to: • Data center authorization procedures should
be placed in county and municipal codes; • Land Use Plans and Zoning Ordinances
should clearly identify suitable lands not adjacent to residential and public space areas
to minimize impact; • Transparent estimates for power needs (average and peak) and
how those needs are to be met; • Water usage (average and peak), and how these needs
are to be met even if county authorities do not have jurisdiction over said water sources;
• Estimated labor needs both during construction and once in operation; • Audible (dBa)
and low-frequency (dBc) emissions estimates and mitigation strategies to be employed;
• Assessment criteria for Fire Department and other emergency agencies to limit
potential public safety risks particularly if on-site generator, generator fuels, or battery
storage (e.g., lithium ion batteries) are to be used; • Environmental impact reports
covering any water effluents, on-site hazardous materials, excess heat generation, and
the impact of audible and low-frequency emissions on wildlife, to be paid for by the
developer prior to authorization; • If tax abatements or other development incentives are
offered, they be clearly delineated as to the requirements, the reporting and monitoring
mechanism for such requirements, and a clear statement of cause for revocation;
RESOLVED, We call on Elko County and all municipal governments within it to adopt in
conjunction with developers and operators annual public monitoring and auditing
reports, containing information for the public on: • Audible (dBa) and low-frequency
(dBc) emissions monitoring at property boundaries; • Power usage from any public or
semi-public grids, showing peak and average usage; • Water usage from any source,
including effluents, showing total, peak, and average usage; • Emergency services
incident reports; • Compliance with any requirements of state, county, or municipal tax
abatement criteria, including labor reporting requirements; • Community economic
impact, similar to what is reported by the Elko County Visitors Authority (ECVA) and
voluntarily by current mining companies; RESOLVED, We expect Elko County and all
municipal governments to conduct any approval for Data Centers with public
transparency and adherence to the principles of good and responsible government. This
resolution adopted by the Elko County Republican Party Central Committee on 25 July
2026. __________________________________ Scott A. Gavorsky Chair, Elko County
Republican Party"
I am attaching this resolution, which was printed out and handed to the clerk of the
board in the council chambers (8 hard copies) at the water commision meeting today
Aug 5th.
Please add my email phironimus@gmail.com to the planning department email list so
that I will be notified for any future developments in the unincorporated areas of Butte
County.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.
Much appreciated,
Patrizia and Carmen Hironimus
917.449.4292