Massachusetts cities impose year‑long moratoriums on new data centers

The City of Lowell and the City of Westfield in Massachusetts have each agreed to a temporary pause on new data center construction. In Lowell, developer Markley Lowell LLC and Tanner Street Investco LLC dismissed a lawsuit after the city’s March 10 council vote imposed a 360‑day moratorium, keeping the ban in place while officials review zoning and infrastructure needs.

In Westfield, the city council unanimously approved a 365‑day moratorium on July 6 after public meetings highlighted concerns over electricity demand, water usage and potential cost impacts on residents. Both municipalities cite the rapid growth of AI‑driven data centers and their large utility footprints as reasons to hold off further approvals while establishing stronger zoning protections and performance guarantees.