Owner of data centers in Boston, Lowell pushes back against opposition
Jeff Markley of Markley Group is concerned that opposition to data centers is harming Massachusetts' competitiveness, particularly after Lowell's City Council imposed a moratorium on new data center construction and expansion. A lawsuit has been filed against Markley Group and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection by Lowell residents citing environmental and permitting concerns. Gov. Maura Healey also issued an executive order to give communities more voice in data center development.
Jeff Markley, who has been building data centers since 1991, expressed concern that growing opposition to data center technology in Massachusetts threatens the state's competitiveness. Speaking from the Markley Group's Lowell campus, he noted that the company's colocation model differs from the hyperscale facilities that often draw public scrutiny.
The Markley Group, which has invested over $650 million in its Lowell facility, has faced significant local headwinds. Residents have protested the Lowell data center over noise and air quality concerns, alleging ongoing construction disruptions and permitting violations. In April, a coalition of 10 Lowell residents filed a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court against the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Markley Group LLC, challenging the authorization of 27 diesel backup generators and 16 cooling towers in a residential area.
Adding to the regulatory landscape, Lowell's City Council enacted a 360-day moratorium on new data center construction and expansion in March, although Markley Lowell's existing facility is grandfathered. This week, Gov. Maura Healey issued an executive order aimed at giving communities a stronger voice in protecting themselves from what she termed "irresponsible data center development" and potential increases in energy bills.