Inland Wetlands approves permit for Riverside Avenue data center

Bristol, CT – The Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency/Conservation Commission has approved a wetlands permit for a 27,000-square-foot data center proposed by ReNew Properties LLC on Riverside Avenue. The decision, made Monday night, includes several conditions focused on environmental protection, notably a 25-year stormwater management plan designed to mitigate runoff into the nearby Pequabuck River. Attorney Matthew Ranelli of Shipman & Goodwin LLP, representing ReNew Properties, emphasized the project's small scale, describing it as a "Micro Cloud Technology Center" with limited operations and on-site energy generation. He distinguished it from the larger data centers that typically draw significant public attention. The state Siting Council had previously approved the energy component of the facility. Commissioners, including Vice Chairman Michael Robinson and Commissioner Greg Klimek, raised questions about the project's stormwater drainage, snow removal plans, and potential contamination risks from the on-site fuel cells given the proximity to the Pequabuck River. Soil scientist Matt Gustafson addressed concerns about snow storage, explaining designated spots in the parking lot and plans for off-site removal during heavy storms. Ranelli further clarified that the fuel cells would include remote telemetry monitors for performance and problem detection, noting a natural gas line on a recently constructed bridge would service the facility.