Bayonne becomes latest municipality to ban data centers
The city of Bayonne, New Jersey, has enacted a ban on data centers, following a 5-0 vote by its city council and the mayor's signature. This decision is seen as a victory for residents and activists who opposed data center development in the city, making Bayonne the latest of over 30 municipalities in the state to implement such a ban.
The city of Bayonne, New Jersey, has officially banned data centers, marking a significant victory for local residents and grassroots activists who had been campaigning against their development since last December. The Bayonne City Council unanimously approved the ban in a 5-0 vote, which Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski subsequently signed on August 13. This action positions Bayonne as the 32nd municipality in New Jersey to prohibit these facilities, according to climate advocacy groups like the Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN).
The movement against data centers is gaining momentum across the state, with neighboring Jersey City also introducing an ordinance in July to ban data centers as a primary use for industrial properties, aiming to preserve land for job-creating industries. Jennah Reddick, a Bayonne resident and organizer, emphasized the power of community action in overriding corporate interests. The ban became a pivotal issue in the recent mayoral and council elections, which Mayor Ashe-Nadrowski and her slate won on an anti-data center platform.
Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of CRAN, highlighted the statewide spread of the anti-data center movement, asserting that elected officials who side with "Big Tech" face electoral consequences. The coalition opposing data centers includes CRAN, North New Jersey DSA, Friends of Liberty State Park, and State Senator Angela McKnight. Public sentiment aligns with this trend, as a Stockton University poll from early May revealed that 56% of New Jersey voters would support banning AI data centers in their communities due to concerns about their growth.
In a related development, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation on July 7 aimed at increasing accountability for utility companies and data centers, while also providing immediate bill credits to New Jersey households.