Local Governments Impose Moratoriums on AI Data Centers
Local officials in New Hampshire and Beaufort County approved moratoriums on AI data center development following resident protests over energy and environmental concerns.
Local governments in New Hampshire and Beaufort County have implemented temporary bans on the development of artificial intelligence data centers amid growing community opposition. Residents in both regions cited concerns over energy consumption, water infrastructure strain, noise pollution, and rising electricity costs.
In New Hampshire, developer Thomas Moulton withdrew a proposal for a warehouse-sized data center on 40 acres in Nottingham after facing heavy community pushback. Following the withdrawal, Nottingham residents voted for a 12-month moratorium on all data center development. Simultaneously, residents in Bow protested a request by Granite Shore Power LLC to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to connect a 350-megawatt project to the regional power grid for a potential hyperscale AI facility.
In a separate action on Monday night, the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on the construction and expansion of large AI data centers in a 6-1 vote. The decision followed a public hearing where residents advocated for a pause to address emissions and noise pollution. Commissioner Hood Richardson cast the sole dissenting vote, while the ordinance passed without changes to its original text.
