New Jersey Officials Backtrack After Residents Raised Alarm Over Data Centers
The community of Wallington raised concerns about the wording of an ordinance that is now set to be changed.
Officials in Wallington, New Jersey, are removing data centers from a redevelopment plan after residents raised concerns. The change was prompted by opposition from the borough's residents, who feared the proposed ordinance would allow data centers to be built on a 33-acre site near homes. The redevelopment plan, originally slated for a former dairy plant, was amended to remove all references to "Data Centers" on September 10, 2026.
Wallington Mayor Melissa Dabal stated that there are no current proposals, plans, or applications for a data center on the property. The controversy stems from the fact that the 2021 Ordinance 21 listed data centers as a permitted use and set infrastructure standards, fueling residents' fears that one could be built in the future.
The revised ordinance, set to be introduced on October 29, 2026, will eliminate data centers from the redevelopment plan. The issue of data centers has become a contentious topic ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, with concerns over their environmental impact, electricity and water consumption, and potential negative effects on quality of life.
A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 54 percent of Americans view data centers mostly negatively, up from 39 percent in January 2022. In New Jersey, 72 percent of residents oppose the construction of a data center in their town, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll conducted on October 16, 2026.
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