Massachusetts Initiative Seeks Local Voter Approval for Data Center Permits
A Massachusetts citizen filed an initiative petition to require two-thirds local voter approval for data center permits and mandate specific conditions. This follows Governor Maura Healey's pause on data center sales tax exemption applications due to concerns over higher utility bills and community impact. The initiative is currently awaiting review by the Attorney General's office and aims for the November 2028 ballot.
A Massachusetts citizen has filed an initiative petition with the state Election Division, proposing that local permitting agencies be prohibited from issuing data center permits unless certain conditions are met and the project receives approval from two-thirds of the local electorate. This indirect initiative is slated for the November 2028 election and is currently under review by the Attorney General’s office to ensure it meets constitutional and procedural requirements.
This development comes after the Massachusetts General Court created a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying data centers in 2024. However, Governor Maura Healey announced a pause on these exemption applications on June 25, 2026, citing concerns about rising gas and electric bills and potential harm to communities. She emphasized that data center developers must demonstrate their ability to operate without increasing costs or negatively impacting residents.
The Massachusetts initiative is the second statewide ballot measure concerning data centers in the U.S., following a similar measure filed in Ohio in March 2026 by Conserve Ohio, which aims to prohibit data centers exceeding 25 megawatts of power demand. In Massachusetts, if the initiative is approved by the Attorney General, petitioners will need to collect 74,574 signatures to secure its place on the ballot.