Planned data center in NH draws widespread community opposition
A proposed data center in Nottingham, New Hampshire, is facing significant community opposition due to concerns about its impact on the electric grid and local watershed. Developer Thomas Moulton has not yet filed an official proposal, but a public hearing by the Nottingham Planning Board is scheduled, with a large turnout and protests expected. New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has also expressed opposition to data centers in the state over energy costs.
Plans for a new data center in the rural town of Nottingham, New Hampshire, are encountering strong resistance from local residents concerned about the project's potential strain on the electric grid and local water resources. Thomas Moulton is the individual proposing to build the facility on Route 4, though he has yet to submit a formal application to the town.
The Nottingham Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., with the venue moved to a local elementary school to accommodate the anticipated large crowd. Opponents are organizing protests outside the meeting, and an online petition against the development has already garnered over 20,000 signatures. Developer Thomas Moulton expressed surprise at the level of backlash, stating to NHPR, "I haven’t even had my voice heard yet, and everybody is coming out of the woodwork, and they want to lynch me."
The proposed data center also faces broader political opposition within the state. Governor Kelly Ayotte has publicly voiced her disapproval of data center developments in New Hampshire, citing concerns that such projects could contribute to rising energy costs for residents.