Smithfield: More information needed for data centers ahead of May 5 meeting

The Smithfield Town Council in Rhode Island is slated to vote on May 5 on a proposed two-year moratorium for all data centers within the town. Town officials, including Councilor Angelica Bovis, advocate for the moratorium to allow for more research into the environmental, health, safety, and utility impacts of data centers, especially those for AI, expressing a desire to protect residents and ensure responsible growth. Developer John Branca, who is proposing a data center off Route 7, is urging the town to delay the vote to allow for additional public informational hearings and work sessions. Branca highlights the potential benefits of the project, such as substantial tax revenue for Smithfield with low community impact, and mentions his and his partners' reliance on pending state legislation for sales tax exemptions and developer-borne infrastructure burden safeguards. He also addressed resident concerns about noise, water use, and electric costs, stating that the project would be subject to environmental studies and use efficient cooling systems. Town Council President John Tassoni, after attending a work session, echoed the sentiment that more research is needed, specifically regarding data centers' long-term effects on the environment and resource usage. He noted that the proposed data center would be an anchor for a larger industrial park. The developer's proposal hinges on securing state sales tax exemptions, without which, the project would not proceed.