Ramos leads Newark Council call for temporary data-center moratorium
The Newark Municipal Council approved a resolution calling for a temporary moratorium on data center development. This action allows the city time to study the potential impacts on its electric grid, water supply, and infrastructure. The goal is to establish appropriate regulations before large-scale projects move forward.
The Newark Municipal Council has approved a resolution advocating for a temporary moratorium on data center development within the city. The initiative, led by North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr., aims to provide the city with sufficient time to thoroughly assess the potential impacts of large-scale data facilities and to establish appropriate regulatory frameworks. Ramos emphasized that while Newark welcomes technological innovation and investment, it must ensure that such growth does not burden residents with excessive costs or strain critical urban infrastructure.
The resolution was prompted by an increase in inquiries and proposals for large-scale data centers in Newark. It specifically highlighted concerns regarding the significant electricity demands of these facilities, their potential effects on the regional power grid and utility costs for residents, and the substantial water requirements for cooling operations.
The measure explicitly calls upon the Baraka administration to formulate detailed requirements for prospective data center developers. These requirements would include mandating adequate investment in utility infrastructure by developers and implementing protections to prevent increases in residents' utility costs due to data center operations. Additionally, the resolution urges developers to adopt water-efficient cooling technologies, such as closed-loop chillers, to minimize water consumption and mitigate environmental impacts.
Currently, no data center projects have been formally submitted to the City Council for approval, and Newark has yet to adopt specific guidelines for their development. Ramos underscored the importance of proactive planning, stating that Newark needs robust rules in place to safeguard its residents, neighborhoods, and taxpayers before major, potentially transformative projects commence. The resolution also referenced other New Jersey municipalities that have enacted similar temporary moratoriums to study data center regulations.