Costa Mesa CA Politics & Civic News
Covering Costa Mesa City Council, Orange County Council, California State Legislature, and your federal representatives in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Orange County residents.
Orange County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, Orange County Council, Costa Mesa City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.
Orange County’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Dave Min (CA District 47) and Senators Alex Padilla and Adam B. Schiff.
Orange County Council controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the Costa Mesa Police Department budget run through Costa Mesa City Council. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the California State Legislature. The Orange County Elections and Voter Registration Office administers local balloting under CA Election Commission oversight.
HERE Costa Mesa covers Orange County Council meetings, Costa Mesa City Council sessions, California State Legislature session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Orange County is governed, it’s HERE.
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Data Center Greensboro
DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR GREENSBORO
Full resource center →HERE Greensboro has been following data-center decisions that reach Greensboro — the stories are below, along with every official body that would have a say.
A data center in or near Greensboro would first need local land-use approval through City of Greensboro, and Guilford County Board of Commissioners weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The North Carolina Utilities Commission is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
National context: Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. U.S. Department of Energy report
What’s on file near Greensboro
- On file so farNo local data-center campus vote is on file for Greensboro yet; here is HERE Greensboro's reporting so far.
HERE Greensboro data center coverage
- From HERE GreensboroOct 14, 2026 · NC
Guilford Board to Vote on Data Center Moratorium
Greensboro, N.C. — The Guilford County Board of Commissioners should vote on implementing a 180-day moratorium on new data centers during the commissioners meeting at 5:30…
Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits
Zoning & Planning
State Utility Regulator
Electric Utility
Environmental, Water & Air Permits
From across the HERE network
- From HERE RaleighNov 3, 2026 · NC
Raleigh Data Center Expansion Slips in Ahead of Moratorium
RALEIGH, N.C. — A planned data center expansion in west Raleigh will be reviewed under the city’s old rules because the application landed four days before…
- From HERE CharlotteOct 25, 2026 · NC
Charlotte Council Votes Monday on Longer Data Center Pause
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council is scheduled to decide Monday whether to keep its freeze on new data center development in place for most of…
- From HERE CharlotteOct 13, 2026 · NC
Charlotte Council Weighs Extending Data Center Pause in N.C.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — City Council is weighing whether to prolong the halt on new data-center projects and set a Monday night public hearing on the city’s…
- From HERE RaleighOct 9, 2026 · NC
Jackson says data centers should pay more of energy costs
RALEIGH, N.C. — Attorney General Jeff Jackson told the North Carolina Utilities Commission that data centers should shoulder more of the costs tied to their power…
- From HERE RaleighOct 9, 2026 · NC
Duke Energy settlement would make data centers pay upfront
RALEIGH, N.C. — Duke Energy has reached a settlement with the North Carolina Public Staff and major technology companies on a large-load tariff that would require…
- From HERE RaleighOct 8, 2026 · NC
Raleigh, N.C., council approves six-month data center pause
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Raleigh City Council voted 7-1 on Tuesday to put a six-month hold on new large data center development in Raleigh, N.C., giving…
Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026.