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Bartlett board discusses adding data‑center policy to master plan, considers warrant idea
Summary
Board members raised concerns about the local impacts of data centers—energy and water use, environmental effects—and asked whether the master plan or a warrant article should address them; the chair asked members to research and return with ideas for potential March ballot language.
At the end of the June 1 meeting Chair Scott Grant asked the Planning Board to consider whether the town should address data centers in the master plan or on a future warrant. Members voiced concerns about environmental impacts, electricity and water use, and precedent in other New Hampshire communities that have moved to restrict data centers.
"There have been a few towns in New Hampshire that have banned data centers," Grant said, and asked whether the board should consider placing a data‑center policy or a warrant article before town voters in March. Members discussed possible conditions—requiring on‑site power generation or water treatment—and expressed divergent views: Pat Roberts said he did not want data centers in the state; David Patch acknowledged they are likely to appear and urged careful, practical policy framing.
The board did not take action but instructed members to research how other communities have addressed data centers and to consider language for discussion at a future meeting.
