As AI Booms, New Jersey Communities Are Moving to Ban Massive Data Centers
Communities across New Jersey are increasingly opposing large-scale AI data centers due to concerns over electricity demand, water usage, noise, and environmental impact. Millville has already enacted a ban, effectively halting a proposed 2.6-million-square-foot data center, while Cherry Hill's mayor has vowed to ban them. A statewide moratorium is also being petitioned, highlighting a growing trend of local restrictions and calls for oversight.
Across New Jersey, the proliferation of large-scale AI data centers is sparking significant opposition among residents and local governments, driven by concerns over their substantial environmental and infrastructural demands. A resident of Cherry Hill vocalized these worries at a Township Council meeting, citing impacts on electricity bills, water supplies, and noise pollution, exemplified by an AI hyperscale data center in Vineland.
Following public comments, Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher announced his town would not permit data centers, stating that township lawyers are developing a formal ban. This sentiment is mirrored in Millville, where the City Commission unanimously adopted a new law last month, effectively banning data centers. The Millville ordinance cited high electrical power consumption, substantial cooling water requirements, increased noise, heat generation, and limited local employment relative to land use as reasons for incompatibility with the city's land-use objectives. This ban led to the cancellation of a proposed 2.6-million-square-foot data center in Millville.
While over 80 data centers currently operate in New Jersey, environmental advocacy groups like the Pinelands Alliance are pushing for more widespread action, having launched a petition for Governor Mikie Sherrill to enact a three-year statewide moratorium on new large-scale data centers. Governor Sherrill, however, recently announced a statewide plan focused on accountability and AI innovation rather than a ban or pause. Consequently, New Jersey's approach to data centers is evolving into a complex mix of local restrictions, proposed statewide oversight, and increasing public scrutiny as AI demand continues to surge.