Wilmington Select Board Plans Special Town Meeting on Data Center Zoning Bylaw and Discusses Eversource Energy Project
The Wilmington Select Board discussed a presentation from the Planning & Conservation Director on data centers, highlighting their significant resource demands and potential impacts. This led to a review of a proposed zoning bylaw aimed at regulating data centers, particularly hyperscale facilities, through special permits and strict usage limits. Separately, Eversource Energy presented on a new substation and transmission line project in the region, intended to meet rising power demand, which has indirect relevance to data center growth. The board voted to schedule a Special Town Meeting on November 21st to consider the adoption of the new data center zoning bylaw. A public hearing for the bylaw is also scheduled for September 29th.
During the September 14, 2026 Wilmington Select Board Meeting, a significant portion of the agenda focused on data center development and energy infrastructure. Valerie Gingrich, the Director of Planning and Conservation, delivered a presentation on data centers, defining various types from micro to hyperscale facilities, such as the Meta data center in Kansas City, which can consume 200 megawatts of power and 9.5 million gallons of water daily. Gingrich highlighted growing concerns about large data centers' environmental impacts, including extensive water and electricity consumption, potential strain on the grid and electric rates, heat island effects, land use, and noise/air pollution from fans and diesel generators.
Gingrich informed the board about recent state actions, including Governor Healey's suspension of the state sales tax exemption for data centers and an executive order emphasizing that state permits would not be issued without local support. The Planning Board, with assistance from the Economic Development Committee, has drafted a zoning bylaw to regulate data centers in Wilmington. This proposed bylaw, modeled after one approved in Mansfield, Massachusetts, would allow small data centers (under 2 megawatts) by special permit only in highway and general industrial districts, prohibiting them elsewhere. It also clarifies regulations for accessory data center uses within other businesses, sets strict limits on noise, water, and power, and includes a five-year special permit renewal process with ongoing reporting requirements.
Following the data center discussion, Jason Wright, Community Relations for Eversource Energy, along with Aean McGilligan from their sighting team and Ann McInness from their rights team, presented a proposed energy project. This project, Eversource's first under the state's 2024 Climate Act, involves a new substation in Burlington and significant transmission and distribution line work in Burlington, Woburn, and Wilmington. The goal is to alleviate load capacity at existing substations and improve grid reliability and long-term electric capacity. For Wilmington, the project entails installing 11 new overhead structures and two street crossings, with no underground distribution work. Eversource plans to file its notice of intent in October and its final application in December 2026, with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) having 15 months to review.
The Select Board concluded the discussion by voting to schedule a Special Town Meeting for November 21st at 9:00 a.m. to specifically address and vote on the proposed data center zoning bylaw. A public hearing for the bylaw by the Planning Board is slated for September 29th. Public comments included a resident, Rob Fulo, advocating for the Board of Selectmen to hold special permitting authority for data centers rather than the Planning Board, due to the significant town-wide impact of such facilities.