Mansfield Voters Cap Data Centers at 2 Megawatts as Massachusetts Backlash Widens
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · May 18
Mansfield Voters Cap Data Centers at 2 Megawatts as Massachusetts Backlash Widens
4 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · May 18
Mansfield voters approved a zoning amendment on May 5 allowing data centers only in business or industrial zones and limiting each site to 2 megawatts of power—far below 100-megawatt hyperscale facilities.
The restriction reflects growing resistance to projects blamed for heavy electricity demand, diesel-generator noise and exhaust, cooling-water burdens, and limited local economic benefits despite booming AI-driven investment.
Lowell residents already won a 1-year moratorium on Markley Group expansion and are preparing a lawsuit, citing smoke, fan noise, and mist from cooling systems near homes.
Across New England, Smithfield, Rhode Island, passed a ban, Maine lawmakers approved an 18-month moratorium later vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills, and Everett officials are seeking size limits before any proposal is filed.
The pushback is also clouding larger projects: a proposed $3 billion Westfield data center has gone quiet, while industry trackers say at least 25 U.S. projects were canceled last year amid opposition.
With towns banning data centers, is America's AI dominance at risk from local resistance?
Can new brain-inspired computers solve the data center energy crisis before more towns say no?
As AI's thirst for power grows, who will pay the environmental price for our digital future?
Massachusetts Data Center Crackdown: How Local Bans, High Costs, and Community Backlash Are Redefining AI Infrastructure in 2026
Overview
In May 2026, Mansfield, Massachusetts, set a new precedent by approving a zoning amendment that nearly bans large data centers, reflecting growing local control over tech development. This move follows a national trend, with states like New York and Florida also tightening data center regulations. Mansfield’s decision came after a thorough study of how such facilities strain local resources, especially electricity and water. By focusing on these concerns, Mansfield’s new rules aim to protect community infrastructure and well-being, signaling a shift toward stricter oversight as communities nationwide push back against unchecked data center growth.