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Councilors seek hearing on moratorium for AI/data centers amid local impact concerns
Summary
A hearing order filed April 29 would examine proposals for an 18-month moratorium on new AI/data centers in Boston, citing community concerns about electricity and water use, noise and local utility costs.
Councilor Flynn on April 29 filed a hearing order (Docket 0867) requesting council review of policies affecting new artificial-intelligence (AI) data centers in Boston. Sponsors and co-sponsors said constituents across the country are raising alarms about data centers’ electricity and freshwater consumption, noise pollution from cooling systems, and the potential for rising utility bills that could burden local residents.
Councilors referenced recent actions in other states and municipalities — including an 18-month moratorium adopted in Maine — and urged the city to exercise transparency around approvals, require environmental and utility impact analyses, and consider pre-development rules or temporary pauses while frameworks are developed.
Why it matters: Data centers can require substantial power and cooling resources and have potential consequences for utility rates, environmental impacts and community quality of life; the proposed hearing order seeks to understand and possibly limit unexamined buildup in or near residential neighborhoods.
What’s next: Docket 0867 was referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation for a hearing to gather information from utilities, developers and community stakeholders.
