New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill to Announce Data Center Policy
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is scheduled to make an announcement regarding data centers on May 27, 2026, at the Executive State House in Trenton. This comes amidst rising electricity costs, strain on electric grids, and calls from environmental and labor groups for a moratorium on new data center construction in the state. Governor Sherrill previously declared a state of emergency on utility costs.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is slated to make an announcement concerning data centers during a press conference on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 10:45 a.m. at the Executive State House in Trenton. The specific details of her announcement have not yet been disclosed.
This upcoming announcement occurs against a backdrop of increasing community backlash to data center growth nationwide, including in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Concerns stem from rising electricity costs and the strain these facilities place on electric grids, particularly with the expansion of the AI industry. A recent U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee report indicated that New Jersey residents paid over $260 more in utilities in 2025, more than double the national average.
In January, Governor Sherrill declared a state of emergency on utility costs and issued two executive orders to address what she termed an affordability crisis. Additionally, earlier in May, a coalition of New Jersey environmental, labor, and community leaders formally requested the Governor to implement a moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers consuming 20 megawatts of power or more, citing environmental concerns and energy demands.