New Haven weighs 12-month moratorium on data center development

New Haven officials are weighing a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center development to address the fast-growing industry's impacts. The ordinance, introduced by Alderman Richard Furlow, aims to provide the city with time to study the sector's land-use, environmental, infrastructure, and public safety implications and craft specific zoning regulations, which are currently lacking. If adopted by the Board of Alders after review by the City Plan Commission on July 15, the moratorium would temporarily halt approvals for new data center applications.

During the proposed pause, the city's Department of Economic Development would establish a working group, tasked with developing and recommending appropriate zoning standards within six months. This initiative aligns with a broader cautious trend among Connecticut policymakers, including Gov. Ned Lamont, who earlier this year suggested slowing down new data center projects unless they incorporate additional electric generation, due to concerns over high electricity and water demands. Other Connecticut municipalities, such as Groton, Morris, and West Haven, have also considered or enacted similar temporary moratoriums or land-use regulations.