Candidates Back Moratorium, Warn Data Centers Could Drain Local Resources

At a candidate forum hosted by Reconnect Malden and Schools Beyond Screens, five Democratic candidates for state legislative seats said they support moratoria or stricter rules for data centers and urged state and local standards to protect communities.

Carrie McDonald, Malden city councilor, called data centers “a wealth extraction device in our communities,” warning they can drive up electricity rates and consume water that local systems rely on. Jay Higgins said he would “put immediately a moratorium of at least a year in place statewide” to study health, environmental and economic impacts. Rep. Kate Lippert Garabedian praised Malden’s local moratorium and said the state has also placed a pause as it considers regulation.

Candidates recommended concrete protections: requiring clean-energy sourcing, closed-loop non‑potable water systems, clearer local zoning authority and collaboration with state agencies such as the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and water authorities. Ryan O’Malley highlighted the need to “work with specialists” and to use moratoria as time to draft zoning and regulatory responses rather than to allow rapid siting without oversight.

The forum did not record any formal vote or regulatory text; candidates emphasized policy development and state–local coordination as next steps. The moderator framed the question on an existing local moratorium and asked how candidates would protect constituents from environmental, health and rate impacts.