Montville Group Calls For Ban On Data Centers

MONTVILLE, NJ — A local group that advocates for democratic participation at township and school board meetings is asking residents who oppose data centers to bring their concerns to township officials Tuesday.

Montville Rising urged residents to attend the Township Committee meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Municipal Building, 195 Changebridge Road, according to a press release sent to Patch.

The group wants the committee to prohibit data centers, citing concerns about electricity and water costs, noise and what it describes as a limited number of long-term jobs.

“We can’t wait until contracts are signed to make our voices heard,” the organization said.

The campaign follows a Planning Board discussion on Thursday, August 27, about data center zoning, noise, water use and electricity demand, as Patch previously reported. Officials stressed during that meeting that no data center had been proposed in Montville.

Montville Rising said rumors have circulated about a possible data center at 65 Route 46 East, near the Rachel Gardens community. However, the group acknowledged it could not verify those claims. Patch has not independently confirmed plans for a data center there.

“This should not be a difficult call to make for our Township Committee,” spokesperson Neeke Swart said. “We do not want the burden of data centers.”

A Gallup survey conducted in March found that 71 percent of Americans opposed constructing AI data centers in their local areas, including 48 percent who were strongly opposed. About one-quarter supported such projects.

The township’s official meeting agenda includes a “public portion” but does not list a data center proposal or proposed ban for consideration. No committee vote on the issue is scheduled for Tuesday.

For residents concerned about how data centers could affect Montville’s utilities, noise levels and development, the meeting offers an opportunity to make their views known before any specific data center proposal has been publicly confirmed or placed on the Township Committee’s agenda.

Have a correction or news tip? Email dani.sepe@patch.com.