Manchester Mayor Reassures Whiting Residents: No Data Centers Coming to Township
Manchester Township Mayor Joseph Hankins reiterated his opposition to data centers and said the township is committed to keeping them out. The Township Council unanimously removed redevelopment-plan provisions that had allowed data centers, amid resident concerns about electricity demand, water use, infrastructure and environmental impacts.
Manchester Township Mayor Joseph Hankins told residents at an October 15 candidate meet-and-greet in Whiting that he remains opposed to data centers anywhere in the township. Councilwoman Sandy Gravatt-Drake, who is running with Hankins, also supports preventing the facilities from being developed in Manchester.
The comments followed unanimous action by the Manchester Township Council to remove data-center provisions from a redevelopment plan. Hankins said resident opposition prompted the change, while also discussing improvements to Whiting’s electrical infrastructure by Jersey Central Power & Light and efforts to attract other businesses to vacant commercial properties.