Lowell, Massachusetts, Residents Debate Data Center Amid Environmental and Zoning Concerns
Residents in Lowell, Massachusetts, are vehemently opposing a data center operated by the Markley Group, citing concerns over noise, air quality from diesel generators, and water usage, particularly during summer heat waves. The debate intensified at a city-led community forum on data center zoning, where a 14-year-old girl was temporarily detained by police for speaking out. This local conflict highlights broader environmental and grid strain issues associated with data centers.
Residents of Lowell, Massachusetts, are expressing intense opposition to a data center operated by the Markley Group in the city's Sacred Heart neighborhood. Local resident Eileen Castle highlighted concerns about noise from industrial air conditioners and fumes from backup diesel generators, affecting air and water quality for local children, especially during heat waves.
The article notes that the Sacred Heart neighborhood, predominantly low-income and working-class, is designated by the state as facing higher environmental and health risks. State Representative Tara Hong, a Democrat representing a heavily Cambodian American district in Lowell, emphasized the community's vulnerability, stating the data center is "smack in the middle of everything." Experts like Shaolei Ren, a professor at the University of California, Riverside, explained that data centers require more energy-intensive refrigeration or water-intensive evaporative cooling during heat waves, and backup diesel generators can worsen local air quality.
Jeff Markley, CEO of Markley Group, countered that the company has planted over 2,000 trees to improve air quality and only uses generators for emergencies and brief weekly tests, not proactively. He stressed they engage only during actual power disruptions to maintain critical systems.
The community's frustration boiled over at a recent city-led community forum on data center zoning. Tensions were so high that police officers temporarily detained a 14-year-old girl who spoke out of turn, shouting, "We just don't want data centers!" Lowell Mayor Erik Gitschier defended the police action, stating he was unaware of her age and sought to maintain decorum amidst passionate arguments.