Council bans data centers in Taunton

The Town of Taunton announced Oct. 22 that the City Council voted unanimously at its Oct. 20 meeting to ban data centers in the City of Taunton and to establish a one-year moratorium on new data centers.

City Planner Kevin Scanlon said adopting both measures allows the city to monitor how similar bans are handled in other Massachusetts communities and provides time to address potential legal or regulatory issues that could arise. The ban is meant to prohibit data centers in Taunton, while the moratorium is meant to serve as an additional layer of protection should the ban face a legal challenge.

Before the meeting, a developer with an existing building in the Myles Standish Industrial Park asked for an exemption from the proposed moratorium for existing buildings, citing interest from a potential data center tenant. The City Council did not grant that request, and no exemption for existing buildings was included in the moratorium.

The city said it recognizes the significant public interest in the issue and appreciates residents who took time to express concerns and take part in the public process.

In summary, the Oct. 20 council actions were a unanimous vote to ban data centers in Taunton, a unanimous vote to establish a one-year moratorium on new data centers, and no exemption from the moratorium for existing buildings. The city said these actions reflect its decision to restrict data center development while giving it additional time to address potential legal challenges.

Source: Town of Taunton announcement, October 22, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.