Nassau County releases draft report on data centers as residents push for tougher rules
Nassau County released a draft report recommending classification and siting rules for data centers, stronger reviews, water and infrastructure protections, and measurable noise and lighting standards. Residents urged commissioners to impose tougher restrictions or ban data centers, while county officials said a ban could face legal risks and indicated some requirements may be strengthened before a vote.
Nassau County’s Fact-Finding Committee on Data Center Development released an initial draft report after four months of a temporary moratorium. The report proposes classifying data centers by type and scale, determining where each category could be located, strengthening project reviews, protecting water and infrastructure capacity, and establishing measurable noise and lighting standards. It also recommends excluding data centers from county economic incentives.
At a public workshop, residents expressed opposition to data center development and some called for an outright ban. The county attorney and other officials warned that a ban could be legally risky, while commissioners said they were considering tougher requirements, including larger setbacks. The committee plans another workshop on Nov. 9 and expects to issue a final report Nov. 25; commissioners could hold public hearings and vote on regulations on Jan. 25, 2027.