Cumberland Council Bans Data Centers in Zoning Ordinance on 6-1 Vote
The Cumberland Town Council voted 6-1 to amend its zoning ordinance, explicitly prohibiting data centers within the town limits. This decision followed public testimony and council discussions about concerns over electricity consumption, water usage, noise, and environmental impacts. Council members cited rising utility costs and local environmental conditions as key motivators for the ban.
The Cumberland Town Council voted 6-1 on September 16 to adopt Ordinance 26-22, effectively listing data centers as a prohibited use under the town's zoning ordinance. This decision means that data centers will not be permitted in Cumberland under current rules. At-Large Councilor Peter Bradley cast the lone dissenting vote, while three members of the public testified in support of the ban during a public hearing.
Council members, including sponsoring District 4 Councilor Jodi Sweet, cited significant concerns that prompted the measure. These included the immense energy consumption of modern data centers, which can rival that of a small city, and their potential to exacerbate Rhode Island's already high electricity rates. Water usage was another major point of contention, with estimates suggesting a large data center could consume as much water as 16,000 households daily, a significant strain given recent droughts in Rhode Island. The council also heard about issues like noise pollution and diesel fumes from backup generators observed near data centers in other communities, such as a Massachusetts city where a facility is located close to a residential neighborhood.
Public speakers, some representing privacy and climate advocacy groups, reinforced these concerns, highlighting health risks, the threat to affordable utility bills, and the negative impact on natural resources and wildlife habitats. One speaker compared the situation to William Blake's "dark satanic mills," criticizing tech companies for riding roughshod over the public. The council also discussed the precedent set by other towns, including Smithfield, which recently banned data centers outright, and the need for proactive regulation.
District 5 Councilor Robert Shaw thanked the sponsoring councilor for the work, noting he had been awaiting such an ordinance. The council acknowledged the timing was opportune, given state-level activity regarding data center legislation. The ordinance's passage establishes Cumberland as a municipality taking a firm stance against data center development due to environmental and infrastructural concerns.