A proposed moratorium on data centers hits resistance in Mass. Senate
A proposed one-year moratorium on new data centers in Massachusetts, introduced by Sen. Michael Moore, failed to pass the state Senate despite support from 13 senators. Senate leaders cited lack of broader support and concerns about competitiveness, while Moore emphasized the need to address energy and water impacts. The debate highlights the state's internal conflict over balancing data center benefits with environmental and grid concerns, even as Lowell residents have filed a lawsuit over local data center permits.
Sen. Michael Moore's amendment to impose a one-year moratorium on new data centers in Massachusetts was rejected by the state Senate. The amendment, part of a larger economic development package, garnered support from 13 of the 40 senators. However, it failed to advance after Senate leaders, including Ways and Means chair Michael Rodrigues and Sen. Barry Finegold, expressed opposition, citing concerns about the state's competitiveness and the issue being partially addressed in a prior energy bill.
Moore, who had also seen a similar moratorium pitch fail a month earlier, withdrew his amendment, alongside another requiring data centers to use 100 percent renewable energy. He expressed disappointment, calling it a "missed opportunity" to address the significant energy and water consumption of data centers. This decision reflects the ongoing "yo-yoing" policy in Massachusetts, where Gov. Maura Healey's administration recently paused data center tax credits after enacting them, calling for developers to "bring your own clean energy."
The debate in Massachusetts mirrors national tensions over data center development, with some communities like Lowell, Westfield, and Holyoke already enacting municipal moratoriums. Lowell residents have also filed a lawsuit against the state over air permits for a data center there. Industry representatives, such as Chris Anderson of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, warned that such mandates could drive investment to competing states, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted a statewide moratorium and Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed one, illustrating varied approaches across the region. Moore vowed to continue his moratorium push through other legislative avenues.