Working with grassroots activists, Red Bank becomes first municipality to urge state lawmakers to pause data centers statewide and adopt standards for energy use, water use, and labor

RED BANK, NJ — Red Bank is the latest municipality in New Jersey to ban AI data centers, with members of the council voting on Thursday night to update the borough’s planning and development laws.

In the same meeting, the council passed a resolution calling on the State of New Jersey to pause new large-scale data centers statewide until there are laws in place to govern them. Red Bank is the first municipality in New Jersey to call for a statewide moratorium.

“We’re banning data centers to protect the Red Bank community. But we know this issue doesn’t stop at our borders, which is why we’re urging Governor Sherrill and state lawmakers to pause new data centers statewide until we have real safeguards in place,” said Kate Triggiano, Deputy Mayor of Red Bank. “In state after state, we’re witnessing communities suffer from the harmful effects data centers have on the environment, local infrastructure, and quality of life, with zero benefits in return. How is it harder to open an ice cream shop in a residential neighborhood in New Jersey than it is to open a new data center? We need to be honest about what these facilities do to a community and write our laws to match that reality.”

The new “AI Accountability Proclamation” calls on the state to require large-scale AI data centers to publicly report their electricity and water use, along with new statewide rules to limit where data centers can be built; safeguards against excessive noise, water consumption, and pollution from backup generators; and worker protections and workforce development programs in response to AI disrupting the broader job market.

Worker protections, environmental responsibility, privacy protection, responsible investment, and workforce development within the AI industry.

“While there are benefits to AI, the environmental and financial burdens of data centers are landing on the backs of New Jersey residents,” said Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman. “Until they can figure out a way to remove those impacts, I support a statewide ban of data centers.”

Grassroots activists in the Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey (CRAN), the Gen-Z climate advocacy organization helping lead the fight to ban data centers across the state, worked with local residents, Mayor Portman, and members of the Borough Council on the local ban and resolution calling for a statewide moratorium.

"Red Bank is setting the standard for other towns to follow," said Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of CRAN. “We've spent the past year helping communities across the state say no to data centers, and Red Bank wanted to do more than protect itself. We need a statewide pause on new data centers, and this resolution gives our state lawmakers a roadmap for how to do it. It’s time to stop approving these facilities until we have the legislation and regulations on the books to prevent more corporate overreach. We have to put the people of New Jersey over Big Tech and private equity’s profits.”

Both measures passed with unanimous support on the council.

“Data centers to power artificial intelligence and crypto mining are not the kind of economic development New Jersey needs. The state must step in with robust standards to prevent an unfolding environmental catastrophe,” said Councilwoman Kristina Bonatakis.

The rapid buildout of AI data centers across New Jersey raises legitimate questions about energy demand, water consumption, and who ultimately bears the cost. Communities all over our state are waking up to the costs of unchecked data center expansion and are right to scrutinize the industry,” said Councilman Ben Yuro. “There are many things we should prioritize building in New Jersey before allowing data centers to be dropped in our communities indiscriminately.”

“Red Bank is not an inappropriate location for AI data centers. They are too noisy. Too big. Too energy intensive and too demanding on our water supply,” said Councilman Ben Forest.

In May, more than 60 environmental, labor, and community groups, including Food & Water Watch and Clean Water Action, asked Gov. Sherrill to halt new data center approvals.

"Red Bank is proud to stand with CRAN, Food & Water Watch, Clean Water Action, and more than 60 environmental, labor, and community organizations across New Jersey in calling for a pause on large-scale data center development until the state puts real protections in place,” said Councilmember Nancy Facey-Blackwood. “These facilities carry significant costs — to our water supply, our environment, and our residents' electric bills — and right now there are no statewide standards to ensure those costs are shared fairly. This resolution is about making sure that before we invite this kind of development, we have the rules in place to protect the people who live here."

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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 works with local communities across the state to advance evidence-based climate policies, build civic power, and mobilize a diverse generation of advocates to address the climate crisis.