Ocean County data center discussions draw hundreds to town hall meeting
Hundreds of Manchester Township residents attended a town hall meeting to oppose potential data center development at a former mining quarry in the northern part of the township. Residents are urging the Manchester Council to ban data centers within the township. The discussions also touch upon New Jersey's reliance on nuclear power to meet growing electricity demand.
Hundreds of Manchester Township residents convened at a town hall meeting on Monday to voice strong opposition to a plan that could allow data center development at a former mining quarry in the northern part of Manchester. Speakers like Save Barnegat Bay Executive Director Britta Forsberg urged the Manchester Council to implement an express ban on data centers within the township.
Residents from communities such as Renaissance, an age-restricted community, held anti-data center signs, with many like Maria Ashmawy, Peter Leiva, and Candice Aloisio expressing their objections directly to municipal officials. The discussions highlight a broader context in New Jersey, which is increasingly relying on nuclear power to satisfy its growing electricity demands.