Rhode Island Towns Ban Data Centers, Face Legal Challenges
Smithfield, R.I., adopted an ordinance banning data centers after a proposal by Hanton City Investments LLC sparked environmental and utility concerns from residents. This has led to a legal battle between Hanton City and the town over the ordinance's effective date. The article also discusses broader legislative efforts in Rhode Island and the significant environmental impacts observed in Loudoun County, Virginia, a major data center hub.
Several Rhode Island communities, including Smithfield and Charlestown, are pushing back against data center developments due to significant environmental concerns.
In Smithfield, Hanton City Investments LLC proposed an industrial park with a data center as an anchor tenant. Residents and officials, including Town Council President John Tassoni Jr., raised alarms about water usage, electricity consumption, and impact on local wildlife. In response, the Smithfield Town Council and Planning Board adopted an ordinance in May to ban data centers.
Hanton City Investments is now engaged in a legal battle with the town, arguing that their application was filed before the ordinance became effective, thus giving them a legal right to proceed. State Representative June Speakman (D-Bristol) noted that while legislative efforts to regulate or promote data centers in Rhode Island failed in the past cycle, the issue of environmental impact and infrastructure strain is becoming more pressing.
The article also highlights the experiences in Loudoun County, Virginia, a major data center hub. Residents like Gregory Purio of Sterling, Virginia, who lives near a Vantage data center, have reported health issues, noise pollution, and environmental concerns related to increased particulate matter from backup generators. Cliff Miller, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, advocates for greater transparency, oversight, and protections, noting that a Virginia League of Conservation Voters poll found 72% of state residents support a pause on data center development to study their impacts.