Nottingham voters overwhelmingly approve moratorium on data centers
Nottingham, New Hampshire residents overwhelmingly voted to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development within town limits. This pause allows town officials to study potential impacts and consider permanent zoning changes. The decision follows significant community backlash against a previously withdrawn data center proposal.
Nottingham, New Hampshire residents have overwhelmingly approved a 12-month moratorium on data center development, with 1,335 votes in favor and 143 against. The temporary ordinance aims to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare by allowing the town to study the potential land use, environmental, infrastructure, and fiscal impacts associated with data centers.
Planning board chair Drew Stevens noted that this year-long pause provides an opportunity for the town to implement permanent zoning changes that could effectively ban data centers. The vote reflects strong community sentiment, uniting residents across political divides, like Denise and Jim Metcalf, who both supported the moratorium. Resident Mike Kaplan highlighted concerns about data centers being a significant drain on town resources, fostering broad opposition.
Separately, while New Hampshire currently lacks hyperscale data centers, Governor Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, has indicated she would propose a statewide moratorium in her upcoming budget. Concurrently, the state’s consumer advocate Don Kreis has shared plans for a feasibility study for a hyperscale data center in Bow, potentially on the site of a former coal-fired power plant previously owned by Granite Shore Power, LLC.