En Contraste

09/08/2026

METHUEN - Mayor D.J. Beauregard announced today that he is proposing a temporary one-year moratorium on the development of data centers in the City of Methuen. The proposal will come before the Methuen City Council at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8, beginning the review and approval process required for amendments to the City’s zoning ordinance.

The proposed moratorium would temporarily prohibit the construction, establishment, conversion, or use of property for data centers while the City conducts a comprehensive review and develops appropriate permanent zoning regulations.

“Data centers are expanding rapidly across the country, and communities are increasingly being asked to confront the significant demands these facilities can place on electricity, water, and other public infrastructure,” said Mayor Beauregard. “Methuen should not wait until a proposal is sitting in front of us to decide what our standards should be. We have an opportunity to get ahead of this issue, understand the potential benefits and consequences, and put responsible rules in place before development occurs.”

Data centers can require substantial amounts of electricity to operate servers, cooling systems, and other equipment, potentially requiring significant new electrical infrastructure. Depending on their design, they can also consume substantial amounts of water for cooling and create additional concerns related to noise, air quality, backup generators, and surrounding land uses.

At the same time, the proposed ordinance recognizes that data centers can create economic development opportunities, including investment, employment, and additional tax revenue.

“The goal of this ordinance isn’t to say ‘no’ to economic development,” Beauregard said. “We should welcome investment that creates jobs, strengthens our tax base, and benefits our community, but we also have a responsibility to protect our residents and ratepayers from developments that could drive up costs or place unreasonable demands on our infrastructure and natural resources.”

During the moratorium, the Department of Economic and Community Development, working with the City’s Legal Department and other appropriate departments, would study potential permanent regulations governing data centers. The review would specifically examine impacts on electricity costs and infrastructure; whether facilities should be required to provide dedicated or on-site sources of power; water consumption and protection of the City’s water supply; noise and air quality; appropriate locations and size limitations; permitting requirements; and potential employment, investment, and tax benefits.

The proposed ordinance would establish the moratorium for one year from its effective date or until the City adopts permanent zoning regulations governing data centers, whichever occurs first. The City Council could extend the moratorium once, for up to 180 additional days, if additional time is necessary to complete the zoning process.

The proposal also makes clear that the definition of a data center would not encompass ordinary computer servers, networking equipment, computer rooms, or similar technology that is incidental to another lawful principal use, ensuring that the moratorium is targeted specifically toward facilities whose principal use is large-scale data processing and computing infrastructure.

“A temporary moratorium gives Methuen the time to establish clear safeguards before decisions are made that could permanently affect residents, small businesses, and the city’s resources,” said Senator Pavel Payano (D-Lawrence). “Data centers can place enormous demands on electricity, water, infrastructure, and land, and the community deserves a meaningful voice in determining whether and under what conditions these projects move forward. I commend Mayor Beauregard for his proactive leadership, and I urge the City Council to support this responsible step to protect Methuen’s long-term interests.”

09/07/2026

METHUEN CONSIDERARÁ PROPUESTA DE MORATORIA PARA MEGACENTROS DE DATOS
[Translation follows.]

Lunes, 7 de septiembre de 2026
Noticias del Valle en Facebook

METHUEN, MA — El Concejo Municipal de Methuen considerará el martes una propuesta del alcalde D.J. Beauregard para establecer una moratoria temporal sobre nuevos centros de datos, en momentos en que crece el debate sobre los beneficios de la inteligencia artificial y los posibles efectos de las instalaciones que la hacen posible.

Los centros de datos pueden impulsar inversiones, empleos y avances tecnológicos relacionados con la inteligencia artificial. Sin embargo, sus necesidades de electricidad, agua, infraestructura y sistemas de enfriamiento han generado preocupación entre residentes y funcionarios de distintas comunidades.

En Lowell, residentes que viven cerca de la expansión de un centro de datos de aproximadamente 352,000 pies cuadrados han cuestionado el ruido, los generadores diésel, las emisiones, los sistemas de enfriamiento y la cercanía de la instalación a viviendas. Un grupo de vecinos presentó una demanda para intentar detener la expansión y cuestionar la evaluación de sus impactos ambientales.

En otras comunidades de Massachusetts también se han planteado quejas por el ruido y la contaminación del aire relacionados con centros de datos y sus generadores de respaldo.

La preocupación no se limita a los gobiernos locales. El Congreso también está considerando propuestas relacionadas con los grandes centros de datos de inteligencia artificial. El senador Bernie Sanders presentó en marzo la Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, proyecto S. 4214, que establecería una pausa en la construcción y expansión de centros de datos de inteligencia artificial hasta que se aprueben protecciones federales sobre seguridad, empleos, costos de electricidad y medio ambiente.

La representante Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez presentó una versión similar en la Cámara de Representantes, el proyecto H.R. 9442. Además, comités del Congreso han celebrado audiencias sobre el consumo de electricidad, el impacto en la red eléctrica, el uso del agua y el posible aumento de las tarifas para los consumidores.

Estas iniciativas federales todavía no han sido aprobadas, pero muestran que los efectos de los centros de datos se han convertido en un asunto de alcance nacional. También reflejan el desafío de regular una tecnología cuyos beneficios económicos y sociales son considerados importantes, sin trasladar sus costos a las comunidades.

En Methuen, Beauregard presentó una propuesta para establecer una moratoria sobre la construcción, el establecimiento, la conversión o el uso de una propiedad para un centro de datos, si el Concejo Municipal la aprueba. La propuesta todavía no es una ordenanza vigente.

De acuerdo con una publicación del alcalde en Facebook, la moratoria duraría un año desde su entrada en vigor o hasta que la ciudad adopte regulaciones permanentes para los centros de datos, lo que ocurra primero. El Concejo podría extenderla una sola vez por hasta 180 días adicionales.

Beauregard ha dicho que Methuen debe evaluar los efectos de estas instalaciones sobre el suministro y el costo de la electricidad, el consumo de agua, la infraestructura, el ruido, la calidad del aire, los generadores de respaldo, así como el tamaño y la ubicación de los proyectos.

En respuesta a una consulta de Noticias del Valle, el alcalde aclaró que la moratoria propuesta se aplicaría a todos los centros de datos de gran escala, independientemente de su propósito. No estaría limitada específicamente a instalaciones destinadas a inteligencia artificial. La propuesta tampoco incluiría servidores ordinarios, equipos de redes ni salas de computadoras que formen parte incidental de otro uso legal.

La agenda del Concejo incluye además transferencias presupuestarias por 1,677,704 dólares y una posible sesión ejecutiva relacionada con una denuncia presentada por Gregory Gallant bajo la Ley de Reuniones Abiertas.

La reunión será mañana, martes 8 de septiembre, a las 7 p.m., en el Great Hall del edificio Searles, en 41 Pleasant Street. Los residentes podrán asistir y participar, o enviar comentarios a [email protected]. La sesión también se transmitirá por televisión y en línea; no es necesario registrarse para verla.
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METHUEN TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL FOR MORATORIUM ON MEGA DATA CENTERS

Monday, September 7, 2026
Noticias del Valle on Facebook

METHUEN, MA — The Methuen City Council will consider a proposal from Mayor D.J. Beauregard on Tuesday to establish a temporary moratorium on new data centers, as debate grows over the benefits of artificial intelligence and the potential effects of the facilities that make it possible.

Data centers can drive investment, create jobs and support technological advances related to artificial intelligence. However, their demands for electricity, water, infrastructure and cooling systems have raised concerns among residents and officials in various communities.

In Lowell, residents who live near the expansion of a data center measuring approximately 352,000 square feet have raised questions about noise, diesel generators, emissions, cooling systems and the facility’s proximity to homes. A group of residents filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the expansion and challenge the assessment of its environmental impacts.

Other Massachusetts communities have also received complaints about noise and air pollution associated with data centers and their backup generators.

The concern is not limited to local governments. Congress is also considering proposals related to large artificial intelligence data centers. In March, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, S. 4214, which would pause the construction and expansion of artificial intelligence data centers until federal protections are approved concerning safety, jobs, electricity costs and the environment.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a similar version in the House of Representatives, H.R. 9442. Congressional committees have also held hearings on electricity consumption, the impact on the power grid, water use and the potential increase in consumer utility rates.

These federal initiatives have not yet been approved, but they show that the effects of data centers have become a national issue. They also reflect the challenge of regulating a technology whose economic and social benefits are widely recognized without shifting its costs onto local communities.

In Methuen, Beauregard has presented a proposal to establish a moratorium on the construction, establishment, conversion or use of property for a data center if approved by the City Council. The proposal is not yet an ordinance in effect.

According to a post by the mayor on Facebook, the moratorium would last one year from the date it takes effect or until the city adopts permanent regulations for data centers, whichever comes first. The City Council could extend it once for up to an additional 180 days.

Beauregard has said Methuen must evaluate the effects of these facilities on the supply and cost of electricity, water consumption, infrastructure, noise, air quality, backup generators, as well as the size and location of proposed projects.

In response to an inquiry from Noticias del Valle, the mayor clarified that the proposed moratorium would apply to all large-scale data centers, regardless of their purpose. It would not be limited specifically to facilities intended for artificial intelligence. The proposal would also exclude ordinary servers, networking equipment, and computer rooms that are incidental to another lawful use.

The City Council’s agenda also includes budget transfers totaling $1,677,704 and a possible executive session related to a complaint filed by Gregory Gallant under the Open Meeting Law.

The meeting will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Searles Building, located at 41 Pleasant Street. Residents may attend and participate in person or submit comments to [email protected]. The meeting will also be broadcast on television and online; registration is not required to watch it.

09/07/2026