Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions, Answered
Clear, factual answers about the proposed development and what it means for our community.
The Basics
01
What's actually being built, and where?
A data center campus called “Project Perseus,” developed by AVAIO Digital, on the former Delta View Golf Course along West Leland Road, next to the Contra Costa Canal. The city informed us it was a “Technology Park” — many residents found out it was actually a data center in June.
02
What's a data center?
A data center is a large building full of computers that power AI and internet services like email, video streaming, and apps. Just like your phone heats up, thousands of computers running together create heat. These buildings need huge amounts of energy to run and keep themselves cool. They run 24/7.
03
How big is this, really?
Phase I is approved at 92–99MW. But the city already approved a plan allowing up to 500MW across three total phases. Running 24/7, 99MW Phase 1 consumes as much electricity over a year as 100,000 average homes. Pittsburg has about 24,000 homes.
Approval & Accountability
04
Has this already been approved? Can it still be stopped?
The full three-phase plan was approved by the City Council in November 2024. The approved plan lets the Zoning Administrator approve later projects that fit the rules without much public process, and small changes (like adjusting heights or sizes by up to 10%) can be signed off with no public hearing at all. The main thing guaranteeing public review of future phases is the settlement from the lawsuit, which requires a separate environmental study for them.
05
Wasn't there a lawsuit over this?
The Center for Biological Diversity raised legal challenges over wildlife and emissions review. That ended in a signed settlement agreement with the city and developer in December 2025.
06
Who moved this project forward?
Approved unanimously (5-0) by the City Council in November 2024: Shanelle Scales-Preston (now County Supervisor), Juan Banales, Dionne Adams, Jelani Killings, and Angelica Lopez. The Planning Commission recommended approval; it was chaired and recommended at the time by Arlene Kobata.
Health & Environment
07
What about water?
The facility is air-cooled and uses recycled water only, not drinking water. The city states the recycled water spray happens in confined spaces, not in the open air.
08
Is the noise really 24/7?
Cooling systems run 24/7. Diesel backup generators are tested up to 50 hours a year per generator, but during an actual power outage they run continuously for as long as the outage lasts — no time limit.
09
Is the diesel exhaust dangerous?
Diesel exhaust is classified as a known human carcinogen. There's no recognized “safe” exposure level, though individual risk at the 400+ foot distance to the nearest residence, and at this testing frequency, is far below occupational exposure (truck drivers, miners, etc.).
The pollutant most directly tied to asthma and respiratory illness is nitrogen oxide (NOx). The project's own air quality filing shows the generators are responsible for nearly all of the site's NOx emissions (95% of the project's total), even after pollution-control scrubbers are factored in: about 4.4 tons a year. That's equal to roughly 5,530 trucks idling for a full day.
10
What happens during an actual power outage?
This is where it gets serious. A single 12-hour blackout, with all 37 generators running, releases ~25% of the facility's entire annual testing emissions in half a day, for both NOx and CO2e.
In NOx terms, that's roughly 2,660 trucks idling for those 12 hours. In CO2e/fuel terms, it's about 98,900 gallons of diesel burned — equal to roughly 8,200 trucks idling for those 12 hours.
11
How close are the schools?
5 schools within 1 mile: Rancho Medanos Junior High (1500 ft), Los Medanos Elementary, Parkside Elementary, Willow Cove Elementary, and Heights Elementary (0.6 mi from Phase II). 3,190 students.
Economic Impact
12
Will my electricity bill go up?
The city says your bill won't change because the data center buys power from Pittsburg Power Company, not PG&E, but everyone shares the same grid — a facility running around the clock that leans on natural gas and battery power at night raises costs for everyone, including us. The city's “no” assumes AVAIO pays for all upgrades and brings in enough new power to cover what it uses, but neither is locked in: only the right to connect is final, while the deal that sets the price and who pays is still being negotiated. With the grid already tight and the site approved to grow up to five times larger, higher bills are a real possibility.
13
Will our property values go down?
We can't say for certain — there's no study specific to this site, so anyone who gives you an exact number is guessing. Here's what we can point to: Property value is heavily influenced by buyer perception, and industrial facilities like this are widely treated as a risk to nearby home value. That perception gets sharper for families with kids. If a data center brings diesel backup generators and added noise within a mile of a school, that's a factor many parents will weigh when deciding whether to buy in the area at all, and a shrinking buyer pool tends to put downward pressure on prices. This is part of why neighboring Brentwood and Oakley are moving to ban data centers outright before one gets built near them. Locally, the concern is clear — our petition gained over 20,000 signatures in two weeks.
14
How many jobs will this actually create?
Project filings list 20–30 permanent employees — it could be as low as 10. AVAIO claims “500+ jobs,” which includes temporary construction work. There's no guarantee any employees are from Pittsburg.
15
What does the city actually get out of this?
Tax revenue goes into the city's general fund — the exact amount is unknown.
Take Action
16
What can we do right now?
Sign the petition so the City Council hears our voices. Go to City Council meetings, especially ahead of future phase approvals. Push for a moratorium or a resident oversight committee. Pay attention to Zoning Administrator hearing notices specifically — those carry more weight than before. Send a letter to the CEC and request a closer look at this project. See below for more details.