New Brunswick City Council Vetoed AI Data Center Amid Massive Public Outcry

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — In a dramatic display of community power, the New Brunswick City Council unanimously voted to terminate plans for a proposed AI data center at 100 Jersey Avenue after hundreds of residents packed the council chamber and voiced fierce opposition. The project, which had been quietly under review for months, was abruptly canceled during the March 2024 meeting amid an unprecedented turnout of local citizens concerned about environmental impact, energy consumption, and the transformation of their neighborhood into a tech infrastructure hub.

According to MSN, the proposed facility was slated to house high-density server racks supporting artificial intelligence operations for a major technology firm. While developers had emphasized the project’s economic benefits—including job creation and increased tax revenue—residents raised alarms over projected energy demands equivalent to that of a small city, potential heat emissions, and the long-term strain on local utilities. Many attendees cited the global rise in data center-related environmental degradation and questioned the ethics of expanding energy-intensive AI infrastructure without community consent.

"We didn’t ask for this," said Maria Delgado, a lifelong resident and organizer of the protest. "They came in with glossy brochures and promises of progress, but no one told us how much power this would consume or where the cooling water would come from. We’re not anti-technology—we’re pro-community."

The meeting, which began as a routine zoning review, quickly devolved into a heated public forum. Over 300 residents filled every seat and lined the walls, with many more standing outside. Speakers included environmental scientists, local clergy, small business owners, and high school students. One resident presented a petition signed by more than 2,100 households demanding transparency and a moratorium on similar projects. The council, visibly moved by the turnout, paused the agenda and after a brief closed-door consultation, announced the project’s termination.

"The voice of the people was deafening tonight," said Council President Evelyn Torres. "We are elected to serve, not to override. When a community speaks with such unity and passion, we have no choice but to listen."

Though the developer, a subsidiary of a multinational tech conglomerate, had submitted environmental impact assessments and zoning applications, no public hearing had been formally scheduled prior to the meeting. Critics argue this lack of transparency fueled distrust. "This wasn’t just about one building," said Dr. Alan Nguyen, a professor of urban planning at Rutgers University. "It’s about a pattern—tech companies bypassing democratic processes, assuming communities will remain silent. Tonight, New Brunswick said: not here, not now."

The cancellation has ignited a broader conversation across New Jersey and beyond. Similar proposed data center projects in neighboring towns like Piscataway and Edison are now facing renewed scrutiny, with community groups preparing coordinated opposition. State legislators have indicated they may introduce bills requiring mandatory public referendums for any future data center exceeding 10 megawatts of power draw.

As of press time, the developer has issued no public statement. City officials confirmed that the 100 Jersey Avenue property will remain under municipal review, with potential alternatives—including affordable housing or green energy innovation labs—being explored in consultation with residents. The episode stands as a landmark moment in the ongoing tension between technological advancement and local sovereignty, proving that grassroots activism can still halt even the most well-funded corporate ventures.