East Brunswick Council Proposes Broad Ban on Data Centers

The East Brunswick Township Council has moved to prohibit the construction of data centers across all commercial, business, and industrial zoning districts. The decision reflects a growing municipal effort to curb the rapid expansion of high-energy digital infrastructure in residential corridors.

On July 27, the council introduced Ordinance 26-21 in a 4-1 vote, with Councilman James Wendell casting the sole dissenting vote. The proposed ban is expansive, covering hyperscale data centers, colocation facilities, cloud-computing infrastructure, AI processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining operations. Notably, the ordinance does not establish minimum thresholds for electricity usage, server counts, or building size to qualify as a data center, creating a broad restriction on any facility used primarily for digital information processing.

This local move follows a period of intense activity at the state level. On May 27, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a statewide data-center plan, and on July 7, she signed the "Data Center Fair Share law." This legislation creates a separate ratepayer class for large data centers, intended to ensure these facilities pay for their own energy and grid infrastructure rather than shifting costs to other ratepayers.

Local officials argue that the pace of AI-driven demand is outstripping current regulatory frameworks. Council President Dana Zimbicki stated that the ordinance is intended to "put a pause on this until state regulations and legislation catches up." While Councilman Kevin McEvoy expressed total opposition to such facilities in the township, the dissenting Councilman Wendell argued that the ordinance lacks precision, stating that the definition of a data center "needs to be much more tightly defined."

Before a final vote can be taken, the proposal must be referred to the East Brunswick Planning Board to ensure the ban is consistent with the township's master plan. A public hearing and a potential final vote on the ordinance are scheduled for August 10. This move signals a cautious approach to the AI boom, prioritizing local zoning stability over immediate industrial growth while the state refines its energy and tax frameworks for the digital age.