Asbury Park Passes Data Center Ban

ASBURY PARK, NJ — The Asbury Park city council unanimously passed a resolution banning data centers within city limits, and calling on Gov. Mikie Sherilll to enact a state-wide moratorium on new data center construction.

With the move, Asbury Park joins about seven other towns across New Jersey that banned data centers, including Red Bank, which just passed its ban this week.

Other large towns such as Sayreville, Union, Warren, Phillipsburg and Summit have introduced measures banning data centers, but they haven't passed yet.

There is also a grassroots movement underway in Old Bridge to ban data centers.

"Every town in this state needs time to get this right before it's too late," warned Asbury Park Mayor John Moor.

The Asbury Park City council said it has concerns about data center's impacts on the regional electrical grid, local water resources used for cooling, continuous noise, air quality and diesel emissions from their backup generators. Their resolution urges Gov. Mikie Sherrill and the state Legislature to put an immediate pause on allowing new data center construction, particularly data centers serving artificial intelligence/AI.

Data centers are one reason why New Jersey electric bills have gone up so much.

Data centers use tremendous amounts of electricity, and the current supply on New Jersey's electric grid is not enough for how much electricity data centers demand. Compounding the problem is that New Jersey does not produce enough electricity in state to power its needs.

Utility companies, such as PSE&G, are forced to buy more energy from out of state, which is very expensive. In the past two years, PJM, which manages New Jersey's electric grid, has increased the supply charge for electric companies and in turn, utility companies increased the transmission charge to customers.

In May, Gov. Sherrill proposed a plan that will require data centers start paying tariffs to offset how much electricity they suck up. They will also have to start reporting to the state and the towns where they are located their electricity and water consumption.

But Matt Smith, director of Food & Water Watch New Jersey, said Sherrill's plan is not aggressive enough. Similar to what Asbury Park just passed, Food & Water Watch wants the governor to put an immediate moratorium on any new data center construction in New Jersey.

"This issue goes well beyond Asbury Park," said Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn. "Communities across New Jersey are grappling with the same questions about water, energy and quality of life, and the state needs to step in with real standards before this kind of development outpaces what any town can manage."

Asbury Park's data center ban was passed at the June 10 city council meeting.

Asbury Park Mayor Moor will retire this year and not seek re-election for mayor, and Quinn is running to succeed him as mayor.

Related: Data Centers Are One Reason New Jersey Electric Bills Have Gotten So High (June 5)