Bayonne says no to new data centers

Bayonne, New Jersey, has enacted a ban on new data center construction, with Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski signing the ordinance after a unanimous vote by the Bayonne City Council. The ban, which removes data centers as a permitted use under every zoning category, follows a local activist movement that began in December over a proposed data center project in the city.

The campaign against data centers became a key platform issue for Ashe-Nadrowski during her mayoral run, which she won in May. Jennah Reddick, an organizer of the local movement, celebrated the outcome as a victory against "corporate greed.

The city's decision aligns with a broader trend in New Jersey, where over 30 other municipalities, including Cherry Hill, Franklin, and Old Bridge, have also banned data centers. Concerns driving these bans include the impact on electricity costs and the regional power grid, with an independent watchdog estimating data centers account for $6.3 billion in costs for PJM Interconnection, the utility serving New Jersey and other states. Environmental issues such as air pollution from generators, water usage for cooling, and noise pollution from servers and cooling systems were also cited as factors by opponents. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill recently signed legislation requiring large data centers to cover electricity and grid upkeep costs without subsidies, though she has not yet pushed for a statewide moratorium.