Malden City Council Enacts One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
The Malden City Council in Massachusetts has unanimously passed a new zoning amendment establishing a one-year moratorium on data centers, effective June 16, 2026, to June 16, 2027. This action was initiated by Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor to study the environmental and infrastructural impacts of data centers on the densely populated community. The city is also working to define 'data center' for its ordinances and explore further zoning restrictions, while Governor Maura Healey monitors data center growth statewide.
The Malden City Council has unanimously passed a new zoning amendment, establishing a one-year moratorium on data centers within the city, effective from June 16, 2026, to June 16, 2027. The initiative, spearheaded by Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor in May, aimed to prevent the siting of data centers while the city studies their potential environmental and infrastructural impacts.
Councillor Taylor's proposal also sought collaboration between the City Council and Planning Board to define 'data center' for Malden and explore additional zoning amendments for restrictions. The decision follows concerns about the massive energy and water consumption of AI-focused data centers, particularly their strain on local grids in densely populated areas like Malden. Similar actions are reportedly underway or completed in nearby communities such as Everett and Somerville.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has also taken a statewide stance, announcing a pause on data center tax incentive applications until developers can demonstrate they will not increase costs or harm communities. Governor Healey emphasized that data centers must not strain the energy grid or harm the environment, especially concerning water resources. The state, due to high energy costs, strict environmental regulations, and limited undeveloped land, has not been a primary target for data center development.