Massachusetts communities discuss zoning, bans for AI data centers
Following Lowell's moratorium on new data center construction, other Massachusetts communities like Mansfield, Wilmington, and Chelmsford are addressing the rapid expansion of AI data centers. Mansfield has already banned large-scale operations, while Wilmington and Chelmsford are discussing updates to their zoning bylaws to regulate or prohibit these facilities due to their significant resource demands.
A growing backlash against artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion is prompting communities across Massachusetts to consider measures to mitigate or prevent data center construction. This follows Lowell's moratorium on new data center development.
Mansfield has made history as the first municipality in Massachusetts to effectively ban large-scale data center operations within its borders. This precedent is now influencing discussions in towns within the Greater Lowell area, as they re-evaluate their zoning bylaws to properly account for and regulate modern data centers.
In Wilmington, Town Manager Eric Slagle issued a memorandum suggesting the town's current bylaws do not explicitly allow for data centers. He proposed a path for the town to define what constitutes a data center before drafting a prohibition. Similarly, the Chelmsford Planning Board, led by board member Joel Luna, initiated discussions to link zoning requirements for data centers with the rise of generative AI, emphasizing the astronomical electricity and water demands of these facilities and their potential impact on local utilities and costs.
Luna's presentation in Chelmsford outlined various zoning approaches, including setbacks, height and noise limits, special permit requirements, or the creation of new zoning districts. He also highlighted that Mansfield's successful ban was partly due to its control over municipal water and electric utilities, a factor not present in Chelmsford. Both Wilmington and Chelmsford's discussions are initial steps that are expected to lead to Town Meetings for formal action.