Energy-Intensive Data Center Proposed for Woods of Smithfield

Revity Energy, a developer known for utility-scale solar projects, has proposed constructing a data center on hundreds of acres of woodland in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The proposed site is located behind Fidelity Investment’s corporate office park off Douglas Pike and across the street from Bryant University. Ryan Palumbo, vice president of Warwick-based Revity Energy, and John Branca, the property owner, presented the plan to the Smithfield Town Council on March 17, ahead of a March 19 Planning Board meeting. Palumbo described the project as a business park with a data center as the anchor tenant. In a significant local development, the Smithfield Planning Board has since backed a Town Council recommendation to propose a ban on data centers. Concurrently, Revity Energy is advocating for state-level support, with Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown) sponsoring two bills (S2346 and S2776) that would offer a 30-year tax incentive to attract data centers to Rhode Island. These bills have been held for further study. Sen. Sam Bell (D-Providence) has publicly opposed such tax breaks, arguing they would further increase electricity rates. The proposal has sparked local debate regarding its environmental impacts and energy consumption. Critics highlight concerns over the conversion of forestland into industrial sites, substantial strain on local power grids and water systems, and the potential for higher utility bills for residents. The article draws parallels to a previous rush of ground-mounted solar arrays that led to the destruction of green space, advocating for more rigorous planning for data center development given the sector's rapid, often unregulated, expansion fueled by AI and cryptocurrency.