{"id":300867,"date":"2026-07-20T17:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T17:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/300867\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T17:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T17:55:12","slug":"jersey-city-moves-to-ban-new-data-centers-on-industrial-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/300867\/","title":{"rendered":"Jersey City Moves to Ban New Data Centers on Industrial Land"},"content":{"rendered":"

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news<\/p>\n

Jersey City is taking steps to prevent new data centers from being built on the city\u2019s industrially zoned land<\/a>. On Wednesday, July 15th, Mayor James Solomon and the Jersey City Council introduced Ordinance 26-057<\/a>, a measure that would amend the city\u2019s Land Development Ordinance to prohibit data centers as the primary principal use on industrially zoned land. If approved, the ordinance would preserve some of Jersey City\u2019s remaining industrial space for businesses that city officials said create more jobs for residents. Read on for more about the ordinance and what it would mean for Jersey City residents.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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About the Proposal<\/p>\n

The proposal comes as demand for AI infrastructure<\/a> continues to grow nationwide, prompting increased interest from developers looking to build data centers. City officials argue that while these facilities require large amounts of electricity, water, and land, they generate relatively few permanent jobs.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cData centers eat up power, drive up utility bills for every ratepayer in this state, and employ almost nobody. Our industrial land should be put to work for the people who live here by creating real jobs with real wages,\u201d Mayor Solomon said in a press release<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

The proposed ordinance has received broad support from the Jersey City Council. In the press release, Eleana Little, Ward E councilmember, said industrial land should remain focused on creating employment opportunities for Jersey City residents rather than housing facilities that require substantial infrastructure while offering limited long-term jobs. Jake Ephros, Ward D councilmember, also cited concerns about utility costs, saying residents are already facing rising energy bills and shouldn\u2019t bear the financial burden of increased electricity demand tied to large-scale data centers. Joel Brooks, Ward B councilmember, echoed those concerns, pointing to the environmental impacts of AI data centers, including pressure on the electric grid and water supply. He said the ordinance reflects the city\u2019s commitment to prioritizing neighborhoods over what he described as \u201cBig Tech\u2019s profits.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0Environmental advocacy groups have also praised the proposal. In the press release, Ben Dziobek, executive director of Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN), said the ordinance is an important step toward protecting residents from increasing utility costs while state leaders consider broader regulations for AI infrastructure. The organization is also calling for a statewide moratorium on new large AI data centers until comprehensive standards are developed. Food & Water Watch North Jersey also voiced support for the measure, with North Jersey Organizer Sam DiFalco saying the ordinance responds to residents\u2019 concerns about noise, energy consumption, water use, and potential impacts on utility rates.<\/p>\n

\"All<\/a>\"\"\/
\nHow Could This Affect Existing Data Centers?<\/p>\n

\u00a0According to a list compiled by South Jersey Climate News<\/a>, there are more than 80 data centers in New Jersey, with even more planned or under construction. Five of those are currently located in Jersey City.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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Centersquare \u2013 New York EWR1: 210 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
\nOne Evertrust Plaza: 1 Evertrust Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07302
\nNewport Financial Center: LeFrak Organization Inc, 111 Town Square Place, Jersey City, NJ 07310
\nQTS Jersey City 1 DC1: 95 Christopher Columbus Dr, Jersey City, NJ 07302
\nLumen Jersey City: 1 Evertrust Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07302<\/p>\n

\u00a0According to the city, all five data centers are located inside existing downtown office buildings shared with other commercial tenants. None of them received Planning Board approval; instead, they were all permitted administratively for tenant use.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0If passed, Ordinance 26-057 would not affect existing data centers. Instead, it would remove data centers from the list of permitted principal uses within the city\u2019s Industrial District moving forward. The proposal would also eliminate the associated parking requirements for data centers and add a formal definition of \u201cdata center\u201d to the municipal code, clarifying that data centers and cyber hotels are not considered warehousing uses.\n<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next?<\/p>\n

\u00a0The proposed ordinance has now cleared its first reading, but it is not yet law. Before taking effect, Ordinance 26-057 must receive a second reading and final approval from the Jersey City Council at its scheduled August 19 meeting.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Follow @thehobokengirl on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0+\u00a0TikTok<\/a>\u00a0for the latest Hoboken and Jersey City updates,\u00a0sign up for our weekly newsletter here<\/a>\u00a0that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our\u00a0events calendar<\/a>, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.\n<\/p>\n

\"Aspen<\/a>\"\"\/<\/p>\n