Islip Town Board sets 18-month ban on new data centers in community
The Islip Town Board unanimously voted to enact an 18-month moratorium on new data center construction until February 28, 2028. This ban aims to allow the town to investigate and amend its code, as current zoning regulations are deemed inadequate to address infrastructure, planning, and quality-of-life issues posed by data centers. The decision mirrors a similar statewide ban by Governor Kathy Hochul and actions taken by the Brookhaven Town Board.
The Islip Town Board in New York unanimously approved an 18-month ban on new large-scale data center construction, effective until February 28, 2028. Councilman John Lorenzo stated the board is "pumping the brakes" to allow time for investigation and amendments to the town's code.
The town's decision follows a similar 12-month statewide ban implemented by Governor Kathy Hochul last month on data centers exceeding 50 megawatts, citing a need for regulatory guidelines. While Islip's ban does not include a size threshold, its rationale aligns with the state's, focusing on the necessity to update existing zoning regulations that are deemed inadequate for data center development.
According to town spokesperson Caroline Smith, there are currently no data centers operating or in the development pipeline within Islip. The new code, which now includes a definition of "data center" previously absent, cites concerns over infrastructure, planning, and quality-of-life issues that require comprehensive study. This proactive measure comes amid growing opposition to data center proliferation, as evidenced by a proposed moratorium in Brookhaven, where residents expressed concerns over noise, potential rate hikes, and environmental impacts from power usage.