Jersey City Council bans A.I. data centers from being built in the industrial district
The Jersey City Council unanimously voted to ban artificial intelligence data centers from being built in the industrial district. Officials cited concerns about the centers not creating many local jobs and being an unnecessary waste of electricity and water resources. The decision follows similar ordinances passed in other New Jersey cities like Bayonne and Howell.
The Jersey City Council unanimously approved a ban on artificial intelligence data centers within the city's industrial district on Wednesday. Councilmembers justified the decision by stating that such data centers would not create significant local employment opportunities and would excessively consume vital resources like electricity and water. This move by Jersey City follows a trend observed in other New Jersey municipalities, including Bayonne and Howell, which have also passed ordinances restricting AI data center development.
While residents like Abril Rios expressed support for the council's action, emphasizing community input on development, not all shared this view. Brenden Clark, a Jersey City resident, advocated for regulation over an outright ban during the council meeting. Clark highlighted the city's recent 15.5% property tax increase, suggesting that data centers could provide much-needed capital-intensive development and recurring revenue for the area. The article notes that over 30 towns and cities across New Jersey have implemented bans on data centers.