Massachusetts group targets 2028 ballot to limit new data centers
Advocates need 80,000 signatures to place a measure on the ballot that would require two-thirds voter approval for new facilities.
By Elena Greco ·
A new ballot initiative in Massachusetts would give local residents more control over the construction of data centers. The proposal, filed by The Committee to Restrict Data Centers, aims to place the question before voters in 2028.
The campaign seeks to go beyond a law passed in September of this year. That existing law requires developers to sign agreements with towns and cover their own energy costs. Under the new proposal, a data center project would need approval from two-thirds of the voting population in the host community.
The measure would also require developers to submit detailed plans for water usage. They would need to present a power strategy that does not raise local electric rates. This adds specific financial and environmental hurdles that were not present in the current regulatory framework.
Democratic state Sen. John Velis of Westfield supports the effort. In a statement, he noted that local groups have organized to stop or delay new centers. He cited complaints about the cost of electricity, environmental uncertainty, and the loud noise from turbines running around the clock.
The group must collect 80,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot. The announcement comes as a project is proposed in Sutton. That plan involves ten buildings using 900 megawatts of power, developed by groups affiliated with Robert Kraft.
Exit polls from the 2026 mid-term elections show that 76% of respondents opposed a new data center in their community. Industry groups disagree with the notion that these facilities raise rates, arguing that tax breaks help address the state's affordability crisis.
