Nottingham data centers moratorium approved by town's voters

Nottingham, New Hampshire residents have overwhelmingly approved a 12-month moratorium on any new data center development within town limits. The vote, held on September 8, saw 1,335 residents vote in favor of the measure compared to 143 against.

The temporary ordinance was enacted to "protect the public health, safety and welfare" of Nottingham residents and the regional watershed, while providing the town with adequate time to study the potential land use, environmental, infrastructure, and fiscal impacts of data centers. According to Drew Stevens, chair of the Nottingham Planning Board, this year-long pause will allow the town to explore potential zoning changes that could lead to a permanent ban on data centers.

The decision comes after a now-withdrawn proposal for a data center earlier this year generated significant local backlash. Residents Denise and Jim Metcalf, despite typically voting for opposing political parties, both supported the moratorium, echoing a sentiment shared by Mike Kaplan, who noted that concerns over resource drain from data centers have united many residents across party lines.

While there are currently no hyperscale data centers in New Hampshire, Gov. Kelly Ayotte has expressed intent to propose a statewide moratorium on data centers in her next state budget. Separately, the state's consumer advocate, Don Kreis, recently announced plans for a feasibility study in Bow, NH, for a hyperscale data center, potentially at the site of a former coal-fired power plant owned by Granite Shore Power, LLC.