New Haven to consider 12-month pause on new data centers

New Haven city leaders will discuss next Wednesday a proposed ordinance that would bar the city from accepting or approving applications for new data centers or for converting existing properties into data centers for 12 months. The proposal would create a temporary citywide pause while officials evaluate local impacts.

The discussion follows a broader call from state leadership. Gov. Ned Lamont said earlier this year that the state should "slow down on new data center projects unless they include additional electric generation," a position the Reporter noted as part of the context for New Haven's deliberations.

If adopted, the ordinance would stop the city from processing or approving new permit applications and from authorizing conversions of existing sites into data centers for a one-year period. The Reporter summarized the ordinance's scope as covering both new builds and the convergence or repurposing of current properties into data center use.

No vote or formal adoption was recorded in the transcript provided; the item is listed for discussion next Wednesday. The meeting segment did not identify a sponsoring council member, motion language, or a vote tally. Additional details — including which New Haven body will introduce the ordinance, any proposed exemptions, and potential requirements tied to electric-generation capacity — were not specified in the available record.

Reporting on the item is limited to the discussion notice and the ordinance description given in the meeting preview; further developments, including whether the measure advances to a formal reading or vote, will depend on the scheduled session.