Jersey City Council votes to ban data centers on industrial property
The Jersey City Council has voted to ban data centers as the primary use of industrial property within the city. Officials cited concerns about the lack of local job creation, excessive resource consumption, and potential air pollution from such facilities. This decision follows similar actions by other New Jersey municipalities.
The Jersey City Council unanimously voted this week to enact a ban preventing data centers from being the primary use of industrial property in the city. Council members expressed concerns that data centers provide few local jobs and disproportionately consume valuable resources like electricity and water.
Councilman Michael Griffin highlighted historical environmental struggles in areas like Greenville, stating that data centers, with their reliance on heavy diesel and water, could exacerbate air pollution. Ward D Councilmember Jake Ephros argued that data centers allow "billionaire companies" to profit at the expense of local residents, who are already struggling with rising utility costs, and that the community should not subsidize these corporations. Jersey City is not alone in this stance, as Howell, New Jersey, made a similar decision recently, and a total of 35 cities and towns in the state have reportedly worked to ban such facilities.