Data center opposition spreads across CT as towns weigh bans
Connecticut municipalities are adopting data center bans and moratoriums amid concerns about electricity use, water consumption and environmental impacts. The article also examines opposition to proposed facilities in Cromwell, Colchester, Bristol and other communities, while state lawmakers consider a statewide moratorium and changes to data center tax incentives.
Several Connecticut municipalities have moved preemptively against data center development. East Lyme adopted an indefinite ban, while New Haven and Morris approved temporary moratoriums; other towns are considering restrictions amid concerns about electricity demand, water use, pollution, noise and community impacts. Connecticut's high power and infrastructure costs have limited development, with Cigna's Windsor renovation the only project to use the state's data center tax incentive.
Opposition has also surrounded specific proposals. A planned facility near Waterford's Millstone Nuclear Power Station was abandoned after years of delays, while Global Common's proposed 300-megawatt facility in Cromwell drew a petition with more than 1,500 signatures. Proposed or rumored projects in Colchester, Bristol and Beacon Falls have likewise generated public concern, although some officials said no formal applications or active projects currently exist.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said he plans to introduce legislation creating a statewide moratorium and requiring a better understanding of data centers' energy and water impacts. Republican leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, also expressed support for pausing development or repealing the 2021 tax incentive, while developers argued that smaller facilities can provide economic benefits with limited environmental effects.