Public Opposition to AI Data Centers Intensifies in Oakley

Oakley's first City Council meeting of 2026 delivered routine code adoptions and a new civic sign alongside sharp exchanges over governance standards—and a warning from residents that the energy-hungry artificial intelligence industry may be eyeing the Delta.

• Public commenters urge the council to block AI data centers, citing extreme water and electricity demands near the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

• Council adopts 2025 California Building Code corrections unanimously; approves Ironhouse Sanitary District's new electronic reader board at Rose and Main.

• Minutes and conflict-of-interest designations pass 4–1, with Councilmember George Fuller dissenting on both.

• City Attorney previews SB 707 Brown Act changes—two-way remote participation, translation thresholds, and social media rules—prompting council debate over whether to require cameras for online speakers.

• Sharp council comments on ethics, Brown Act compliance, and social media practices punctuate an otherwise procedural agenda.

Residents turned the non-agenda public comment period into a forum on the risks of permitting AI-focused data centers in or near Oakley—a concern tied to the proposed Bridgehead Industrial Project.