Judge halts expansion of massive data center in Lowell, Massachusetts neighborhood

In Lowell, Massachusetts, a Superior Court judge has issued an order halting the installation of four uninstalled backup diesel generators at a Markley Group data center located in the Sacred Heart neighborhood. The ruling by Judge William Barrett comes after community members, led by resident Jake Fortes and represented by the Conservation Law Foundation, filed a lawsuit in April. They appealed a permit decision by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that would have allowed the data center to add up to eight new generators, bringing its total to 27.

Fortes has long battled the data center, asserting that its existing generators spew diesel fumes into his home during weekly operations. The lawsuit argued that the DEP failed to adequately consider the community's existing pollution burden before approving the expansion. While the judge's order allows the operation of four previously installed generators, it criticizes the data center's attempts to engage with the community as "lacking."

Markley Group, in response, expressed confidence that a full review of the record would uphold the DEP's original dismissal of the appeal. The DEP stated it is reviewing the order and cannot comment. Compounding the developer's challenges, the Lowell City Council recently voted to enact a 360-day moratorium on any further expansion at the data center, indicating growing pressure from the community regarding environmental and quality-of-life concerns, including air and noise pollution and water usage for cooling.