Easthampton joins growing list of western Mass. communities hitting pause on data centers
Easthampton, Massachusetts, is considering an 18-month moratorium on new data center development to study potential impacts. City leaders plan to evaluate issues like land use, noise, water/air pollution, and strain on electrical grids before making decisions. Public hearings will be held before a final city council vote.
Easthampton, Massachusetts, is poised to enact an 18-month moratorium on new data center construction as concerns about their impact on smaller communities grow in western Massachusetts. City officials, including Mayor Salem Derby, have proposed the temporary ban to allow time to study the potential effects of data centers on neighborhoods, local infrastructure, and natural resources.
The proposed pause mirrors similar actions in other western Massachusetts communities like Agawam and Westfield. During the moratorium, Easthampton leaders will focus on researching zoning restrictions and environmental impacts, including noise, water and air pollution, electrical grid strain, and the demand for significant land that could displace housing. Mayor Derby expressed a conservative stance, questioning if using scarce vacant land for data centers would truly benefit the community.
Christine Clark, an individual working in the tech industry, acknowledged the necessity of data centers for AI infrastructure but urged developers to consider more suitable locations beyond small towns with available land. The moratorium proposal will undergo public hearings and require city council approval before it can officially take effect.