MANCHESTER – Strong opposition to data centers is expected to be expressed during the August 10 Township Council meeting reflecting the growing trend in Ocean County and across the country.
Councilwoman Judy Noonan brought up the subject during the most recent council meeting. “I don’t really know of any data centers coming into Manchester at this point. I have my own personal concerns about data centers that has nothing to do with the council but we can’t handle (the electrical drain and water consumption that is required to operate data centers) in Manchester that we have now. I’ve received some emails about whether we have data centers coming in.”
Business Administrator Carl Block confirmed that a developer who has approval for a warehouse complex was considering if a portion of that can be used for data center use. He noted that a review of power usage, backup power usage, water usage and the answers to those questions are being sought.
The nonprofit organization Pinelands Alliance has launched a petition opposing data centers in Manchester. This group is focused on protecting the Pinelands, Barnegat Bay, and the surrounding communities. Their petition notes “We strongly oppose the construction of large data centers. This new generation of data centers has extremely large water and energy needs, which place a burden on host communities.”
“They can also have devastating impacts to wildlife and the environment. We must protect people and the environment from data centers. Other towns have banned data centers. Now Manchester has the only lots in the Pinelands (block 62: lots 30 and 31.01) zoned for data centers,” the petition notes.
The Alliance is urging residents to sign the petition for no data centers in the township. “We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Manchester Township, the Pinelands, and New Jersey’s natural resources, respectfully urge the Manchester Township Council to repeal the redevelopment plan for Block 62, Lots 30 and 31.01 to remove ‘data center’ as a permitted use, and; adopt an ordinance, as 40 plus other New Jersey municipalities have already done, to ban data centers from the entire municipality.”
It noted “unprecedented energy and water demands” and “a new generation of hyperscale data centers is being constructed across the country that requires enormous amounts of electricity and water.”
“Manchester already experiences frequent blackouts, and residents have been grappling with rising electricity prices driven by data center demand. Water levels have already been dropping and Manchester residents are now subject to water restrictions. Bringing these water-and energy-hungry data centers to our own backyards will only exacerbate these issues,” the petition states.
The Alliance also raised the issue of noise pollution caused by data centers which they state “have major impacts on host communities that are subjected to the constant noise and pollution of hastily built data centers, as residents of the city of Vineland have already been experiencing.”
“For residents, this can mean a diminished quality of life. For wildlife, these impacts could be more profound, especially for nocturnal species like the Pine Barrens tree frog and the barred owl that rely on sound,” the petition noted.
New York recently became the first state in the county to adopt a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. According to the Alliance, the Garden State hasn’t done that “despite the fact that 65% of New Jerseyans support a ban on new data centers until our energy crisis is addressed. With nothing but ‘guardrails’ from the state government, it is clear that municipalities must take steps to protect themselves.”
The Alliance posted online about their petition, and received a number of comments.
“I live in Manchester Township. I already live by a super fund site and a dump. Do not need any more environmental endangerment to our area. I do not support data centers and do not want it,” said one writer.
Another said, “this area of New Jersey has already pushed the limits of housing and business development, destruction of prime habitat, and water consumption. Further encroachment and destruction can no longer be allowed. The Pinelands must be fully protected and preserved to maintain the ecosystem and watershed.”
Still another said “I appreciate the natural resources of our community, and do not want to see them destroyed. It is lovely to see wildlife right outside one’s own front door. Please DO NOT build data centers that will impact the quality of life for both humans and wildlife.”
“We are a town of families, retired military and a host of other contributing, loving and caring residents who support each other. Our health is how we do it. We do not need this,” a resident remarked.
One commenter said “the data center will be displacing wild animals, is a dangerous facility of electrical emissions, will be an eye-sore, and will be removing yet more of our ‘Garden State’ actual garden beauty.”
The comments continued, with people concerned about the destruction of the environment, increased noise, and quality of life issues.
As one said, “no data centers in Manchester / Pinelands. Period! Enough with big business, big corporations sucking the economic life out of communities, Manchester does not need yet another group disrupting and diminishing its quality of life.”
For information about the Pinelands Alliance or their petition visit pinelandsalliance.org
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