New Jersey Towns Block Data Centers

The story now emphasizes that New Jersey municipal action has broadened from isolated bans into a wider wave of prohibitions, reviews, and early-stage planning debates, with Lacey and other local barriers now more central. It also sharpens the state-level stakes by framing the issue around who pays for power, cooling, and infrastructure costs.

The story has broadened from a general wave of municipal bans into a more developed statewide policy fight, with new local actions and clearer proposals from Gov. Mikie Sherrill on what future rules should cover. The current version also adds East Greenwich, Neptune Township, and Lacey as additional examples of escalating local resistance.

• East Greenwich banned future data centers after a proposal was withdrawn.
• Neptune Township prohibited new data centers after resident opposition.
• Lacey is considering action before an application is filed.
• Sherrill proposed rules on energy costs, transparency, and community benefits.
• Residents now cite possible effects on utility costs.

The story has broadened from a cluster of New Jersey municipal bans into a more explicit state and federal policy fight over how to regulate new AI data centers. The new framing emphasizes statewide guardrails and a federal moratorium push, while also adding more municipalities and a specific developer tied to the halted Millville project.

• Millville project would have drawn roughly 1.4 gigawatts at full capacity.
• Andover, Sayreville, Union Township, Phillipsburg, Harrison, Pemberton, Warren Township, and Summit joined the list.
• Gov. Mikie Sherrill is now tied to a statewide plan.
• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a federal moratorium bill.
• A1 Data Center was identified as the Millville project developer.

New Jersey municipalities are moving to block data centers through zoning bans and moratoriums, with Millville’s vote standing out as the most prominent example. The central dispute is over whether large AI-era data centers bring enough public benefit to justify their demands on electricity, water, land use, and community character. Local opposition has been organized and persistent, and the issue is now moving from town ordinances toward state-level regulation.