Red Bank council votes to ban data centers, calls on state to pause construction of facilities in other towns
The Red Bank Borough Council in New Jersey unanimously voted to enact a temporary moratorium, effectively banning data centers within the borough due to environmental and infrastructure concerns. The council also passed a resolution urging the State of New Jersey to implement a statewide pause on data center construction until comprehensive regulations are established. This move follows growing statewide opposition to data centers, with Red Bank becoming the first municipality to advocate for a statewide ban.
The Red Bank Borough Council in New Jersey voted unanimously on June 11 to enact a temporary moratorium, effectively banning data center construction within the municipality. This decision makes Red Bank the latest New Jersey town to prohibit data centers amidst increasing statewide opposition.
Red Bank officials cited concerns over potential environmental and infrastructure impacts, including risks to water resources, increased electricity demand, and effects on property values, arguing that unchecked data center expansion could burden residents with higher costs. Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman expressed support for a statewide ban, stating that the environmental and financial burdens of data centers should not fall on New Jersey residents until these impacts can be mitigated.
In the same meeting, the council passed a resolution calling on the State of New Jersey to implement a statewide pause on large-scale data center construction. Red Bank is the first municipality in the state to advocate for such a statewide moratorium, signaling a growing trend of local action and calls for broader regulation. The action was supported by the Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey (CRAN), an advocacy group actively working to ban data centers across the state.
Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of CRAN, praised Red Bank for setting a standard and emphasized the need for statewide legislation and regulations to prevent what he termed "corporate overreach." Recent developments in New Jersey include a Stockton University poll indicating majority concern among voters regarding AI data center growth, and similar bans enacted by Millville Commissioners, which successfully blocked a 2.6 million square-foot facility. Additionally, over 60 environmental, labor, and community groups have urged Gov. Mikie Sherrill to halt new data center approvals, prompting Sherrill to announce a plan in late May to regulate data centers, addressing energy, water use, community benefits, and wage protections.