Councilman Ramos Leads Newark Council Call for A Pause on Data Centers
Newark's Municipal Council approved a resolution led by Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. to support a temporary moratorium on data center development. This pause will allow the city to study the impact of these facilities on electricity, water, and infrastructure, and develop appropriate zoning standards. The initiative aims to protect residents from higher utility costs and ensure developers contribute to necessary infrastructure.
North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. is spearheading an initiative in Newark, New Jersey, to implement a temporary moratorium on data center development. The Newark Municipal Council has approved a resolution, sponsored by Ramos, expressing support for this pause. The goal is to provide the city with sufficient time to assess the potential impacts of these facilities and to establish suitable zoning and infrastructure standards.
The resolution highlights concerns regarding the substantial electricity demands of large-scale data centers, their potential strain on the regional power grid, increased electricity costs, and their significant water requirements for cooling. Councilman Ramos emphasized that this measure is not intended to impede technological progress but rather to ensure that any new development aligns with the city's infrastructure capabilities and safeguards residents.
The resolution urges the Baraka administration to formulate specific requirements for prospective data center applicants. These requirements would mandate adequate investment in utility infrastructure and protect local residents from potential utility cost increases. It also advocates for developers to use water-efficient cooling technologies, such as closed-loop chillers, to minimize environmental impact.
Ramos stressed that Newark should not permit development to outpace the city's capacity to comprehend and manage the consequences. He noted that the moratorium would enable Newark to proactively establish necessary standards before potentially transformative projects advance, thereby protecting residents, neighborhoods, and taxpayers.