Holyoke mayor signs data center ban into law
HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia signed an ordinance banning data centers Thursday, making official the city council’s vote from Tuesday night.
Garcia said he appreciates seeing democracy at work, whether people agree or disagree with the decision.
The ban follows resident concerns over a proposed $200 million data center on Water Street. More than 400 people in the city signed a petition opposing the project.
The city council’s ordinance committee recommended defining “data center” as a specific land use and banning them from every zoning district citywide.
Holyoke has an existing data center, but residents argue it is different because it is a nonprofit run by a consortium of universities using the city’s green energy.
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