Bernards Township Moves To Ban Data Centers

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Bernards Township Committee is looking to ban data centers in town.

On Tuesday night, the Committee unanimously introduced an ordinance that would prohibit data centers in the township’s office zones and remove "data processing centers" from the list of permitted uses there.

Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy noted that "newer high-density centers are designed for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing can bring significant economic development, including job creation."

However, she added that those same centers "pose distinct planning and environmental challenges. As an example, AI data centers may have a continuous demand for water. Furthermore, their dependence on continuous electricity and fossil fuel-powered backup generators raises air and noise pollution concerns."

She also added that there are also considerations, "such as the ability of first responders and emergency services to serve large-scale industrial facilities."

The ordinance would amend Chapter 21 of the township code, "Land Development," by adding definitions for "Critical IT Electrical Load" and "Data Centers."

It says data centers would be specifically prohibited in all districts unless otherwise provided, and that the restriction would apply to "commercial colocation facilities, cloud computing facilities, server farms, cryptocurrency mining operations, and wholesale digital infrastructure uses."

The ordinance states the limitation would not apply to hospitals, public safety facilities, or public utility infrastructure otherwise permitted by the chapter.

It also changes the office-zone section for E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4 and E-5 zones.

In that section, "Data processing centers" would change from a permitted use to "Reserved."

The ordinance will now be reviewed by the Planning Board for consistency with the Township's master plan.

Afterward, a public hearing on the ordinance will be held at the June 23 Township Committee meeting, where there will also be a vote for final adoption.

"In closing, we wish to prohibit the potential for data centers in our community," said Duarte McCarthy. It's my belief that we are elected to do what we think is best for the community and make life better for our residents. This step is taken in that spirit."

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