What is a data center and how many are in New Hampshire?
A proposed data center in Nottingham, New Hampshire, faced immense public opposition, leading the landowner, Thomas Moulton, to cancel a scheduled conceptual presentation. The article also provides a broader overview of data centers in New Hampshire and the increasing national electricity demand driven by AI infrastructure. Despite the setback, Moulton plans to continue researching the project's impact and resource requirements.
A proposed data center project in Nottingham, New Hampshire, faced significant public opposition, resulting in the cancellation of a conceptual presentation by landowner Thomas Moulton. Moulton had sought input from the Nottingham Planning Board regarding the potential construction of a data center on his Old Turnpike Road property. Despite withdrawing the presentation, Moulton stated he would continue to research the project's potential impact on services and resource requirements.
The UnionLeader.com article also provides general context on data centers in New Hampshire, noting that approximately 8 to 12 exist across cities like Manchester, Keene, and Portsmouth, with no clear state-level accounting. Constantine Spandagos, an assistant professor of energy & environmental policy at the University of New Hampshire, emphasized the tangible nature of 'the cloud' and the increasing role of data centers in all internet functions, including AI-related workloads.
Nationally, data center demand for power is projected to more than double from 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 66 gigawatts in 2027, primarily due to the accelerated buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, according to Goldman Sachs Commodities Research. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute also predict a substantial increase in overall U.S. electricity demand in the coming decade, with data centers potentially consuming up to 9% of domestic electricity generation by 2030.