New Bedford Mayor Proposes Temporary Ban on New Data Centers Amid AI Boom

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Mayor Jon Mitchell has proposed a citywide ban on data centers being built in New Bedford “while research is conducted and regulations are considered,” according to a City release.

Mitchell has filed an ordinance amendment with the New Bedford City Council that would revise the way the city defines data centers and the zoning requirements needed for them, citing the enormous strain they put on the resources of their host communities.

Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order earlier today requiring proposed data centers to receive local approval before they can move on to permitting from state agencies.

READ MORE: Order Requires Local Approval, Benefit Agreement for Data Centers

Mitchell’s proposal was filed with the city council a week prior to that executive order, on September 1, and is on the agenda for the Thursday, September 10 council meeting.

What Current New Bedford Zoning Laws Say About Data Centers

Current zoning laws in New Bedford allow for data centers “by-right” in many areas of the city. “By-right” is “when a development proposal strictly conforms to zoning and building codes, and thus, qualifies for construction without requiring discretionary approval,” according to Planetizen.com.

New Bedford’s current zoning rules on data centers were adopted in 2024, “before the recent growth of artificial intelligence and the resulting increase in the number, size, and intensity of those facilities,” the City release said.

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Why Mitchell Is Concerned About Data Centers in New Bedford

In his proposal to the city council, Mitchell wrote that data centers “have been shown to place significant demands on electrical and water infrastructure, generate noise from mechanical equipment and backup generators, consume substantial amounts of land, and impose other negative impacts on surrounding properties, depending on the scale and design of the facility.”

“Continuing to allow this use by-right and without performance standards exposes New Bedford residents to potential risks, which is why I am proposing immediate citywide prohibition,” Mitchell wrote.

What New Bedford Is Doing to Create Data Center Regulations

The City said that the Department of City Planning “has begun researching national and statewide case studies on data centers as a foundation for developing New Bedford’s regulations.”

While the City did not say if there had been interest from any companies looking to build a data center in New Bedford, the Mitchell Administration has been pushing for the development of an Advanced Manufacturing Campus at the site of the Whaling City Golf Course.