The Taunton City Council voted in favor of banning the development of data centers in the city.

 

Councilors also unanimously approved a one-year moratorium that will allow the city to evaluate zoning laws and assess the infrastructure necessary to construct a data center, as well as electrical demands and environmental impacts.

 

The council agreed to move forward with the moratorium as well to protect them from any legal challenges that may arise from the ban, which has no expiration date.

 

Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell told 12 News before the meeting that she expected the moratorium to pass.

“Right now we have nothing in place as far as restrictions, special permits and the potential effects,” O’Connell said. “Our number one job is to ensure that we protect the city and our taxpayers … and really get all the facts before we allow any potential type of project to move forward.”

 

Taunton resident Brynne Bernier supports the moratorium. She was one of several residents to express her concerns about data centers to the council.

 

“Data centers are not wanted in Taunton,” Bernier said. “If there’s a horrible storm, you know, what happens to the residents here? If that data center constantly needs all this energy, I feel like we will not be the priority.”

 

But not everyone is on board with the pause.

 

VMD Companies, which owns a property off John Hancock Road, claims the moratorium would jeopardize a multimillion dollar development deal.

 

See more at wpri.com.