Data Center Signal is tracking 9 clips about Markley Group data center developments across 1 states, including MA.
Lowell, Massachusetts residents have filed the state's first lawsuit against a data center and state environmental regulators. The complaint targets the Markley Group and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) over alleged environmental harm and an unlawful permit approval process for a data center expansion.
Residents of Lowell, Massachusetts, are actively opposing the expansion of the Markley Group data center due to concerns over noise, diesel emissions, and potential health impacts. The Lowell City Council was set to vote on a moratorium to halt the expansion, prompting strong debate between residents and union workers who support the data center for job creation. The outcome of the vote is not specified, but the article highlights ongoing tensions.
Lowell residents have filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Markley Group, challenging the expansion of Markley's data center in the Sacred Heart neighborhood. The suit alleges MassDEP improperly approved permits for 27 diesel generators and 16 cooling towers despite resident concerns about pollution and noise. This legal action follows years of community opposition and a recently enacted 360-day moratorium on data center expansion by the City Council.
Jeffrey Markley, president of Markley Group, purchased over 422,000 square feet of property in Lowell, Massachusetts, potentially for data center expansion, including a former power plant site. The Lowell Planning Board approved preliminary subdivision applications for two of these parcels despite concerns about environmental contamination from a nearby Superfund site and an existing data center moratorium.
Massachusetts cities are experiencing growing opposition to data center development due to concerns about noise, air pollution, and resource strain. Lowell recently enacted a one-year moratorium on new data centers to review zoning rules, while Everett residents are campaigning for a citywide ban. A local group in Lowell is also challenging past environmental approvals for a Markley Group data center.
Cambridge City Council has unanimously voted to request its city manager's office to explore ways to regulate data center expansion in the city. Councillors cited energy constraints, environmental impacts, and water usage concerns as primary reasons for seeking intervention. This move comes as Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey promotes the state as an AI hub, offering incentives for data center development.
A community group in Lowell, Massachusetts called Honest Future for Lowell, represented by the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School, has successfully pushed for a temporary moratorium on new data center development in the city. The group has also filed a legal challenge against the expansion of an existing data center operated by the Markley Group, citing concerns over air pollution, noise, and environmental justice. The clinic and Honest Future for Lowell are now awaiting a decision on their appeal of an air permit that would allow the Markley Group to install additional diesel generators and cooling towers at the data center.
The Lowell City Council voted 10-0 to impose a 360-day moratorium on the expansion of existing data centers and the construction of new ones in the city. The moratorium, which includes an option to extend it for an additional 180 days, stems from concerns over the impact of the Markley Group's controversial 350,000-square-foot data center in the city's Sacred Heart neighborhood. The moratorium will allow the city to review policies and procedures for enforcing conditions on data centers.
This story covers concerns raised by Lowell, MA residents about the impacts of a data center operated by the Markley Group in a residential neighborhood. Residents complain of constant noise, construction, and pollution from the facility. The story notes Massachusetts is preparing to get its first 'hyperscale' data center, which could further increase demand and impacts on local communities.