Northampton City Council unanimously approves yearlong moratorium on AI data centers
The Northampton City Council unanimously approved an immediate, yearlong moratorium on new data centers amid concerns about electricity demand and potential impacts on local waterways. The council also formed a select committee to study the facilities and rejected a proposed exemption for businesses using 250 kilowatts or less.
Northampton’s City Council unanimously enacted a yearlong moratorium on data centers, effective immediately, citing concerns that artificial intelligence facilities could strain the local power supply and pollute waterways. The ban applies to facilities designed to house computer servers or related data-storage technology and follows the creation of a council select committee to study their community impacts.
Councilors rejected a proposed 250-kilowatt exemption for businesses with small server operations by a 7-1 vote, with one abstention. Members also discussed adding a Board of Health representative to the study committee, while City Council President Rachel Maiore said the Board of Health would consider its potential role at a future meeting. Northampton joins several other Massachusetts communities that have adopted data center moratoriums or bans.