SALEM, MA — The Salem City Council on Thursday voted a first passage of a zoning ordinance to ban data centers with an aggregate energy demand of two megawatts or higher as the city races to put rules in place ahead of any more petitions to open the controversial centers in the Witch City.
The move comes as Prime, the developer of the Shetland property, sought to include what Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo, the City Council and the Zoning Board of Appeals determined was a data center in that development.
Pangallo proposed the specific ban on data centers in response to the attempt that Prime officials argued was merely adding capacity infrastructure for local companies and not the construction of a large data center, the likes of which have become a flashpoint of debate surrounding the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and energy consumption in recent months.
Pangallo cited the city's size, density and economic viability, and desire to remain as affordable as possible for current residents and industry workers, in advocating for the ordinance.
"The impacts of these types of facilities are well documented and clear," Pangallo said in a statement posted on social media. "They are not impacts we should voluntarily invite into our community.
"For centuries, Salem has borne the brunt of an industrial legacy handed down from generation to generation. Tanneries and grease works. Coal power plants and sewage treatment facilities. Gas tanks and switchyards. I do not believe we should volunteer ourselves or the generations of Salem residents who will follow us to continue that legacy."
The ZBA denied Prime's appeal of its denial of the original application last week.
While some Councilors expressed hesitation that moving hastily to enact a ban could open it up to unintended consequences, the first passage of the ordinance allowed the proposed ban to move forward while it goes back to committee for further discussion.
The proposal could be amended again before a vote on second and final passage forthcoming.
The City Council also passed its much-debated ban on gas-powered leaf blowers with a long run time of 2030 before the ban becomes effective in order to allow businesses and residents to plan for the prohibition.
Much of the discussion on Thursday was the exemption of city-owned equipment from the ban after the Department of Public Works argued it is not practical — and would be quite costly — to replace all of its equipment with electric and battery-operated models in the next four years.
The Council vote was 6-4 in favor of the ban, exempting the city.
"I don't think our public safety and DPW departments can safely or efficiently make a full transition to electric equipment," Councilor Ty Hapworth said in a post on social media. "Doing so could also mean a significant additional expense for Salem taxpayers. At the same time, I don't like the optics or the policy of passing an ordinance that applies to residents and businesses while exempting the city itself.
"That tension is one of the reasons I've opposed this ordinance."
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