Plymouth Select Board Backs One-Year Moratorium on Standalone Data Centers Ahead of Fall Town Meeting
The Plymouth Select Board unanimously voted to recommend a one-year zoning moratorium on standalone commercial data centers for the upcoming Fall Town Meeting. This measure aims to provide time for municipal planners to assess the impact of such facilities on power grid strain, water consumption, and other local infrastructure before establishing permanent regulations.
The Plymouth Select Board unanimously voted to recommend a one-year zoning moratorium on standalone commercial data centers, presenting the measure for the upcoming Fall Town Meeting warrant. The decision, driven by escalating statewide concerns over power grid strain and significant resource consumption, aims to provide municipal planners with time to establish local safeguards.
Deputy Director of Planning and Development Michael Silveira introduced the proposed zoning amendment, Article 16, which would impose a temporary halt from October 17, 2026, to October 16, 2027. This measure specifically targets dedicated server farms and large-scale facilities, while exempting ancillary data storage connected to primary uses like hospitals.
During the moratorium period, the Plymouth Planning Board and Planning and Development Department plan to collaborate with Eversource and the municipal water department. They will analyze impacts on grid capacity, water demands, noise levels, and local infrastructure before proposing permanent zoning regulations. Select Board Member David Golden, while generally not in favor of business prohibitions, cited research indicating potential water quality issues and increased electricity costs for communities due to "giant AI farms," endorsing the pause to determine appropriate data center development for Plymouth.