PROP 45 OPPONENTS BLAST DATA CENTER BUILDER PROLOGIS, PG&E AND MEASURE’S OTHER CORPORATE BACKERS

SAN FRANCISCO – Opponents of Prop 45 with the group “People Over Polluters” rallied today outside the corporate headquarters of Prologis at Pier 1, blasting the data center builder’s $500,000 in contributions to pass Prop 45, which would fast track data center development.

Prop 45 is the California Chamber of Commerce’s 41-page ballot initiative that would roll back state environmental protections and weaken the state’s defense against President Trump’s attack on state clean air, water, and public health laws.

Prop 45 opponents displayed a giant $10 million check, highlighting that together with PG&E, Edison International, and Sempra, data center developers and for-profit utilities have spent more than a whopping $10 million on the Prop 45 campaign.

A recording of the event can be provided upon request to woody.little@cleanandhealthyca.org.

The following table, drawn from publicly available campaign finance disclosures, breaks down the spending by contributor:

“Data centers are already a known threat to our communities,” said Veronica Eady with West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project. “They drive significant electricity demand, increase reliance on polluting power sources, and pressure already strained water resources. Prologis is aggressively pushing five data centers in San Jose, and now they’re spending $500,000 to push Prop 45. Vote no on Prop 45 to protect our communities from pollution.”

Wednesday’s event in San Francisco came just one week after the city passed a 45-day moratorium on data center development.

“Local activists like us can’t afford Prop 45’s statewide loopholes for data center development,” said William Li with No Data Centers San Francisco, which led the successful local effort. “Communities need time to get full information on the impacts of these risky projects, and our voices need to be heard. Prop 45 attacks transparency and accountability for data center projects. We urge Californians to vote No.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time diving into this 41-page ballot measure. Let me be clear: Prop 45 will allow developers, like Prologis, to fast-track data centers,” said Matthew McKerley, land use attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger and co-author of an in-depth article on Prop 45’s application to data centers. “The broad definition of a ‘broadband Internet access project’ in Prop 45 covers data centers, plain and simple. Prop 45 also specifically excludes numerous other controversial projects, but it doesn’t exclude data centers.”

“When you look at your ballot, think to yourself: who stands to benefit from this?” urged Shannon Olivieri Hovis with California Environmental Voters. “Who stands to benefit from fast-track polluting projects like data centers, pipelines, and industrial warehouses with less public input and oversight? Just follow the money. Big tech, utilities, and other polluters have contributed nearly $40 million to try to buy our vote. ”

“Living near unchecked industrial pollution has real consequences,” said Ravahn Samati with California Environmental Justice Alliance. “Asthma rates go up, heart and lung disease increase, and families can be exposed to toxic chemicals linked to cancer. Prop 45 would weaken the strongest tool our communities have available to protect ourselves from the worst health impacts before another polluting project is approved next door to our homes.”

Prop 45 has attracted opposition from a broad range of more than 500 organizations including the League of Women Voters of California, American Lung Association, Coalition for Clean Air, California Professional Firefighters, and the California Nurses Association.

The independent Legislative Analyst’s Office has concluded that implementing Prop 45 could cost taxpayers $100 million or more per year.

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