Mansfield becomes first town in MA to ban most data centers

At its Town Meeting on May 5, Mansfield, Massachusetts, became the first town in the state to approve a near-total ban on most data centers. Voters passed Article 23, an amendment to the town's zoning laws designed to proactively regulate the what, where, and how of data center operations within the town limits. The new bylaw categorizes data centers into three tiers based on electrical demand: Tier 1 (low-impact, up to two megawatts), Tier 2 (moderate-impact, between two and 10 megawatts), and Tier 3 (high-impact, over 10 megawatts). Under Article 23, only Tier 1 data centers are permitted, and only in specific industrial and business districts, requiring a Data Center Special Permit. All other data centers are prohibited. The amendment also establishes specific requirements for noise levels, water usage, and site design, aiming to mitigate concerns about environmental impact and resource consumption. This move by Mansfield reflects a broader trend of communities nationwide grappling with the expansion of data centers and their associated demands on electricity, water, and land.