Cherry Hill Mayor Seeks Data Center Ban as New Jersey Towns Block 2.6 Million-Square-Foot Projects
Updated
Updated · WHYY · May 27
Cherry Hill Mayor Seeks Data Center Ban as New Jersey Towns Block 2.6 Million-Square-Foot Projects
2 articles · Updated · WHYY · May 27
David Fleischer said no data center will be built in Cherry Hill while he is mayor, and the township is now working with attorneys to turn that stance into a formal ban.
Rising opposition centers on heavy power and water use, noise and siting near homes; a Gallup survey cited in the report found 7 in 10 Americans oppose AI-focused data centers.
East Greenwich approved a ban Tuesday night while a 17,000-square-foot American Tower proposal remains pending, and residents say the project would sit next to a neighborhood and be visible from backyards.
Millville already blocked a proposed 2.6 million-square-foot facility, Monroe banned AI, cloud and crypto-linked centers after backlash to a 1.6 million-square-foot plan, and Vineland residents have sued over noise.
Statewide pressure is building as Gov. Mikie Sherrill drafts legislation requiring data centers to pay for their electricity use and disclose power and water consumption.
As towns ban data centers, who pays the environmental and financial price for our digital future?
With AI's energy thirst growing, is a future of higher electric bills and constant noise inevitable?