Judge halts expansion of Lowell, Massachusetts data center
A Superior Court judge has ordered Markley Group's data center in Lowell, Massachusetts, to cease the installation of additional backup diesel generators. This ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by community members appealing a state environmental permit, citing concerns over noise and diesel fumes. Separately, the Lowell City Council has enacted a 360-day moratorium on the data center's expansion.
A Superior Court judge has sided with Lowell, Massachusetts residents in their battle against the Markley Group's massive data center. The judge issued an order halting the installation of an additional four backup diesel generators at the facility located in the Sacred Heart neighborhood.
Residents, including Jake Fors, have expressed outrage over noise and thick smoke from the data center's existing 23 diesel generators, claiming the fumes fill their homes. The community group filed a lawsuit appealing a previous decision by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which had approved a permit for the data center to operate up to 27 generators. Fors stated that the judge's order signifies someone finally recognizing that rules haven't been followed.
Markley Group, whose facility spans over 350,000 square feet and has been operational for about a decade, issued a statement expressing belief that the court will ultimately rule in their favor and that of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection once the full record is reviewed. In addition to the legal action, the Lowell City Council, responding to community pressure, voted for a 360-day moratorium on the data center's expansion.