San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, August 15, 2026 —

A proposed data center development in downtown Oakland is drawing opposition from community groups concerned about the proliferation of AI data centers, though developers and a city official argue this particular project differs from larger, more controversial facilities.

The project, spearheaded by Behring Companies, is planned for the site at 415 20th St. This location is significant as it involves a portion of a building previously utilized as a supercomputing complex by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Proponents of the development emphasize its comparatively smaller scale and its adaptation of a site with existing technological infrastructure. They highlight the building’s historical use for intensive computing operations as a point of differentiation from new, large-scale data center constructions.

However, the proposal has encountered resistance. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is among the groups voicing concerns. Their opposition centers on potential job displacement and the project’s anticipated environmental impact. These concerns are framed within a broader apprehension regarding the growth of AI-specific data centers.

Despite these objections, a city councilmember has reportedly stated that the project is distinct from typical large-scale data center developments. The specifics of how this project differs from other facilities and the exact nature of the environmental and job displacement concerns were not detailed in the provided information.

The developer, Behring Companies, and representatives from the city have sought to reassure the public about the nature of this particular data center. The extent of the opposition and the specific counterarguments from proponents are currently under public discussion in Oakland.



Story summarized from the original created by Steph Rodriguez on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.

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