Wilmington may ban large data centers

The town of Wilmington, Massachusetts, is actively considering a new bylaw that would effectively prohibit large-scale artificial intelligence data centers within its borders. Valerie Gingrich, the Wilmington Planning and Development Director, explained to the Select Board that while data centers aren't new, the rise of AI development necessitates 'hyperscale' facilities that demand significantly more power and resources than traditional data centers.

Responding to these demands for land, electricity, and water, Wilmington's proposed bylaw aims to regulate data centers before large projects are proposed. The measure, currently under review by the Planning Board with a public hearing set for September 29, would restrict data centers in highway and general industrial districts to those drawing less than 2 megawatts of power. Anything larger would be prohibited, though businesses with accessory data centers for their own use would be exempt. Approved smaller facilities would undergo a special permit process, requiring five-year renewals and reporting on noise, water, and power usage.

This local initiative follows recent statewide actions by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who in June suspended the sales tax exemption for data centers and mandated that operators cover the full cost of their energy from clean sources. Earlier this month, Governor Healey also issued an executive order requiring local approval for data centers through community benefit agreements. Wilmington's Select Board member Jacob Gearwar, who helped draft the bylaw, expressed strong support, believing it to be well-written and likely to pass review by the Attorney General's Office.