Howell Township Joins New Jersey Data Center Ban Trend

The Howell Township Council voted unanimously on August 18 to ban data centers across all zoning districts by amending the local zoning code. This decision follows a December incident where residents successfully blocked a proposed $1 billion data center project over concerns regarding energy demand and the impact on the electrical grid.

Howell is the 33rd municipality in New Jersey to implement a data center ban, closely followed by Jersey City, which became the 34th. Other towns including Warren, Sayreville, Bayonne, and Neptune Township have taken similar actions as local governments increasingly opt for outright prohibitions.

These municipal bans contrast with efforts by the state government. In May, Governor Sherrill introduced a plan to establish statewide infrastructure rules and standards for data centers to ensure the state remains competitive in the field of artificial intelligence. Despite this state-level initiative, local councils continue to restrict the industry, supported by advocacy from groups like the Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey.