Contentious meeting over data center proposal in Cromwell

Cromwell residents packed Town Hall to oppose a proposed data center on Q Street near a middle school. The project has prompted public backlash, with residents arguing that the long-term effects outweigh potential short-term financial benefits and calling for the town to prevent additional data centers.

The Cromwell Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to consider a six-month data center moratorium after a proposed one-year moratorium failed in September. The project developer said the design had been revised to address concerns about land preservation and the school’s proximity, and that the facility would operate on its own microgrid while providing the town with an annual fee and potentially free energy through a state program. The project’s special permit application and a possible moratorium vote are scheduled for December 3.