North Brunswick, East Brunswick, and Stafford Township Ban Data Centers as Local Opposition Grows 

Two neighboring Central Jersey communities and a Shore town become the 35th, 36th and 37th municipalities in New Jersey to ban data centers

Middlesex and Ocean County, NJ — Last night, North Brunswick, East Brunswick, and Stafford Township became the latest municipalities in New Jersey to ban data centers, with all three towns taking action on the same night as opposition to the massive AI facilities continues to grow across the state.

“North Brunswick, East Brunswick and Stafford Township banning data centers on the same night shows exactly how quickly this movement is spreading,” said Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of Climate Revolution Action Network. “Residents are seeing what is happening in other towns, talking to each other and demanding the same protections for their own communities. Every town that takes action makes it easier for the next one to stand up to Big Tech, and that pressure is only going to keep growing until we win a full statewide moratorium to protect all New Jersey residents.”

In North Brunswick, the push grew out of mounting community concern over the proposed redevelopment of the 87-acre property at 100 Fidelity Plaza. Residents quickly mobilized, contacting elected officials, talking to neighbors and local businesses, and showing up to Township Council meetings to demand a say in what could be built in their community.

“As someone who cares about the environment, I don't want data centers in our township for many of the same reasons stated by neighbors over the past few township council meetings and by neighbors across other New Jersey municipalities. We have an incredible data center in our town already: the public library,” said Kristal Calkins, community watershed advocate and North Brunswick resident. “I am grateful to the mayor and township council for hearing residents and acting in a way that will benefit the community and the environment now and in the future. If there’s any investment to be done in data centers, it should be in our local public libraries with more visibility around the incredible free resources they offer and the amazing people who work there.”

Residents worked alongside activists from Food & Water Watch New Jersey, The Watershed Institute, and Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey (CRAN), the Gen-Z climate advocacy organization leading the push to ban data centers in New Jersey.

“Prohibiting data centers is a common sense approach to zoning in 2026,” said Charlie Krativil, Central Jersey Organizer for Food Water Watch. “We need more towns to take action and send a strong message to state and federal leaders that we need a moratorium now.”

With North Brunswick, neighboring East Brunswick, and Stafford Township all banning data centers on the same night, local action is creating a feedback loop as residents and elected officials watch communities across New Jersey take action and demand similar protections at home.

Three bans passing in the same night is a testament to the growing momentum across the state as rural, suburban, and urban communities demand protections from the enormous electricity and water demands, pollution, infrastructure impacts, and limited permanent jobs associated with these facilities.

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About Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey (CRAN)

Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey (CRAN) is New Jersey's largest Gen-Z political organization. CRAN is leading the fight to ban AI data centers across New Jersey, training and working alongside local residents to pass bans in their communities.