New Jersey Stepping up to Establish Data Center Guardrails
Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey state legislators have unveiled a policy platform proposing guardrails to protect residents and resources from data center development impacts. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) supports this move, urging lawmakers to adopt laws ensuring data centers contribute fairly, invest in clean energy, and manage water resources responsibly. The proposed measures aim to make New Jersey a leader in data center regulation.
Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey state legislators publicly announced a new policy platform in Trenton, aiming to establish protective "guardrails" against the potential impacts of data center development. The initiative seeks to safeguard New Jerseyans, as well as their vital water and electricity resources, from adverse effects associated with the industry's expansion.
Jackson Morris, director of the State Power Sector at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), commended the announcement. He highlighted that this demonstrates the Governor and lawmakers' commitment to preventing scenarios where data centers could escalate utility bills for families and small businesses, or cause harm to communities due to inadequate oversight.
Morris urged the state leadership to promptly enact the necessary laws and regulations. He specified that these should mandate data centers to pay their equitable share, invest in new clean energy solutions, utilize state water resources more responsibly, create quality, family-sustaining jobs, and ensure community protection. Such legislative action, Morris added, would establish New Jersey as a national vanguard in responsible data center policy.