Northampton and Lawrence implement data center regulations

Municipalities in the United States are taking steps to regulate the development of commercial data centers following resident concerns.

In Northampton, officials are seeking residents to join a Data Center Select Committee. The committee is tasked with studying the impacts of these facilities, defining different types of data centers, and recommending regulations for their construction and operation. To allow time for this study, Council President Rachel Maiore has proposed a one-year moratorium on the construction of data centers, with a public hearing scheduled for late October.

Similarly, the City of Lawrence has implemented a two-year moratorium on large-scale data centers while staff conduct research into how other cities define and regulate such facilities. A recent code amendment in Lawrence requires any proposed data center to obtain a special use permit, which necessitates public hearings with the planning and city commissions to allow for community input. Lawrence officials plan to hold public meetings to share research and gather feedback through 2027, with the goal of adopting new standards in 2028.