San Francisco supervisors unanimously approved a 45-day pause Tuesday on city approvals for data centers, directing the Planning Department to examine the facilities’ impacts and recommend possible long-term rules. The temporary moratorium, authored by District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, gives city officials time to assess issues including energy and water use, air quality, land use and effects on surrounding communities. The department is also expected to develop clearer standards for what qualifies as a data center and consider ways to strengthen community input. “During this period, we are looking at issues including energy, water, air quality, land use, and community impacts,” Walton said, adding that the work should support stronger protections and meaningful public participation. City leaders are expected to hold a hearing by November on the Planning Department’s progress and findings. The moratorium could be extended for as long as 22 months, but it remains unclear whether officials will pursue a longer pause. The decision comes as data centers — facilities that support artificial intelligence and other digital services — draw growing scrutiny over their demands on infrastructure and land. The study period will give San Francisco officials a chance to weigh those local costs before deciding what rules should govern future proposals.