Proposed project could demand up to 10 megawatts of electricity, raising questions about water, local oversight, infrastructure, emergency response, and public accountability.

Opinion | By former Hanford Mayor Francisco Ramirez

As I continue following the discussion surrounding Global Stack’s proposed data center project at the Kings County Fairgrounds, one thing has become increasingly clear: Hanford and Kings County residents deserve a meaningful voice before decisions involving major infrastructure and public resources are made.

This is not simply a local issue.

Communities across California are beginning to ask similar questions about data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, electrical demand, emergency planning, water resources, and government transparency. Although every proposal may be different, residents have a right to understand the potential long-term effects before projects of this size move forward.

According to reporting by Fox 26 News, Global Stack is considering a project at the Kings County Fairgrounds that could occupy approximately two to five acres and require up to 10 megawatts of electricity.

Kings County Fairgrounds CEO Dena Rizzardo told Fox 26 News that the proposed project would not be a traditional data center. Instead, she said it would use small, self-contained edge computing systems and would not rely on the City of Hanford’s water supply.

That is an important distinction, and it should be reported accurately.

However, the proposal still involves computing infrastructure with the potential to consume an enormous amount of electricity. Whether it is described as a traditional data center, an edge computing facility, or another form of advanced computing infrastructure, a project with this level of electrical demand deserves strong public oversight.

The same Fox 26 News report cited Kings County Fire Chief John Chamberlain, who explained that 10 megawatts of electricity could serve approximately 6,000 to 10,000 homes.

Think about that for a moment.

A single project could require an amount of electricity comparable to what is needed to power thousands of homes. That does not automatically make the project good or bad, but it does mean the public deserves complete information before any long-term commitments are approved.

Residents should know:

• How much electricity will the project use at full operation?
• Could that demand increase if the project expands?
• Will electrical infrastructure need to be upgraded?
• Who would pay for those upgrades?
• Could the project affect electrical reliability or future capacity?
• What emergency-response resources would be required?
• What safeguards would be put in place if the project changes over time?

These are not unreasonable questions.

They are the kinds of questions responsible communities should ask before major projects are approved.

Hanford is also not the only California community examining a Global Stack proposal.

According to reporting by the Vallejo Sun, another Global Stack proposal involving the Solano County Fairgrounds has generated discussion and concern among residents and public officials. Questions have reportedly been raised there about transparency, emergency preparedness, future expansion, public oversight, and the broader effects of advanced computing infrastructure.

The circumstances may not be identical, but the similarities are difficult to ignore.

Different communities. Different fairgrounds. The same company. Many of the same questions.

To me, that suggests a pattern worth paying attention to.

As companies develop more artificial intelligence and edge computing infrastructure, communities will increasingly face proposals involving high electrical demand, complex technology, and potential long-term effects on public resources.

Hanford should not wait until after a project is approved to decide how these proposals should be reviewed.

While Dena Rizzardo stated that the Kings County project would not depend on Hanford’s municipal water supply, water should still remain part of the public discussion. Residents deserve to understand whether water would be required for fire suppression, maintenance, cooling, future expansion, or any other operational purpose.

The public should also know whether commitments regarding water usage would be placed into enforceable agreements.

Statements made during the proposal stage are important, but residents also deserve protections that remain in place if the project is sold, expanded, redesigned, or operated differently in the future.

Water is one of the Central Valley’s most valuable resources. Electricity is another.

Projects capable of consuming substantial amounts of either resource should not move forward through a quiet or routine administrative process.

It is also important to clarify that the proposed project is located at the Kings County Fairgrounds and is therefore not under the direct control or jurisdiction of the Hanford City Council. Questions about the current proposal, agreements involving the Fairgrounds, and opportunities for public comment should be directed primarily to the Kings Fair Board of Directors and the appropriate state fair authorities. However, this jurisdictional distinction should also serve as a reminder that the City of Hanford must establish its own clear protections before a similar project is proposed on property or infrastructure that falls within the City’s authority. The City may not control this particular Fairgrounds proposal, but it can still prepare for the future by adopting policies addressing high electrical demand, water usage, emergency-response needs, infrastructure impacts, and public review.

That is why I believe the Hanford City Council should adopt a formal policy requiring City Council review and approval for any proposed data center, edge computing facility, or similar computing project that exceeds established thresholds for electrical demand or water usage.

If a project has the potential to consume massive amounts of electricity or place significant demands on water resources, it should automatically require a public hearing before the Hanford City Council.

Residents should have the opportunity to:

• Review the proposal and supporting documents
• Ask questions in a public meeting
• Hear directly from company representatives
• Understand the expected public benefits
• Learn about potential infrastructure and emergency-service demands
• Receive clear answers about water and electricity usage
• Comment before agreements or approvals become final

The City should also establish clear policies defining exactly when a project triggers this level of review.

Those policies should include measurable thresholds for:

• Electrical consumption
• Water usage
• Land use and expansion
• Emergency-response needs
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Environmental effects
• Changes to the original project scope

Once those thresholds are reached, a project should automatically come before the City Council in a noticed public hearing.

That policy should apply consistently, regardless of how a company chooses to describe its facility.

A project should not escape public review simply because it is called an edge computing system instead of a traditional data center. The deciding factor should be its actual impact on public resources and infrastructure.

This is not about opposing technology.

I support innovation.

I support responsible economic development.

I support businesses that create opportunities and invest in our region.

But supporting growth does not mean surrendering public oversight.

Responsible development requires transparency, accountability, enforceable protections, and meaningful public participation.

Good government is not about automatically saying yes to every proposal.

It is also not about automatically saying no.

It is about asking the right questions, examining the facts, listening to residents, and making informed decisions that balance economic opportunity with the long-term interests of the community.

If this project provides significant public benefits, company representatives should be willing to explain those benefits openly.

If the project will not use Hanford’s water supply, that commitment should be clearly documented.

If it will require up to 10 megawatts of electricity, residents should understand how that power will be supplied and whether local infrastructure will be affected.

If the project could expand later, the public should know what additional review would be required.

And if public agencies are considering agreements involving publicly controlled property, infrastructure, or resources, those discussions should take place with the highest possible level of transparency.

Make Your Voice Heard

If you believe projects with the potential to consume significant amounts of electricity or water should receive greater public oversight, consider sharing your thoughts with the Hanford City Council.

Public participation helps ensure that decisions affecting our community are made openly, transparently, and with input from the people who will ultimately live with the results.

Hanford City Council Meeting

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Hanford Civic Auditorium
400 N. Douty Street
Hanford, CA 93230

Share Your Thoughts with the Kings Fair Board

The proposed project also involves the Kings County Fairgrounds, and residents who have questions or comments may also participate through the Kings Fair Board of Directors.

According to the posted meeting notice, members of the public are welcome to attend Board meetings and provide public comment. The Board also accepts written requests for future agenda items related to Fair business.

Kings Fair Board Meeting

Wednesday, July 20, 2026
4:30 p.m.

In Person:
Kings Fair Office
801 S. 10th Avenue
Hanford, CA

Phone: (559) 584-3318

Meeting Information and Agendas:
www.thekingsfair.com

Zoom Meeting:
The meeting notice also provides a Zoom option, meeting ID, passcode, and phone access for those who cannot attend in person.

If you choose to participate, consider asking questions such as:

• How will this project benefit Kings County residents?
• What agreements are being considered between the Fairgrounds and Global Stack?
• Will future project changes require additional public review?
• How will the Fair Board ensure transparency throughout the process?
• Will the public have additional opportunities to comment before any final agreements are made?

Editor’s Note: The Kings Fair Board meeting notice lists the meeting as Wednesday, July 20, 2026. However, July 20 falls on a Monday; Wednesday is July 22. Residents are encouraged to confirm the correct meeting date with the Kings Fair Office at (559) 584-3318 or through thekingsfair.com before attending.

Whether you agree with the proposal or not, participating respectfully and asking informed questions helps strengthen public trust and ensures community voices are heard.

Technology continues to evolve, and the policies governing it must evolve as well.

My goal is not to stop progress. My goal is to ensure that progress is accompanied by transparency, accountability, enforceable protections, and meaningful public participation.

If a proposed project has the potential to consume an amount of electricity comparable to what could serve 6,000 to 10,000 homes, the public deserves more than assurances.

Sources: This opinion article references reporting by Fox 26 News concerning the proposed Global Stack project at the Kings County Fairgrounds and reporting by the Vallejo Sun concerning a Global Stack proposal involving the Solano County Fairgrounds.

@talkknn Data center proposed for Kings County Fairgrounds. Questions arise about electricity, infrastructure, and transparency. Public conversation needed before decisions are made. #LocalNews #Community #DataCenter #PublicOversight #KingsCounty ♬ original sound – Kings Network News