New Brunswick, NJ — On Wednesday, following substantial public pushback, the New Brunswick City Council voted unanimously to amend a redevelopment plan to remove data centers as a permitted use, and reinstate plans for a park.

The vote came just nine days after city officials revealed that a developer had plans for a 27,000 square foot data center near homes and businesses.

With the move, New Brunswick joins a growing number of communities standing up against data center development.

In response to the vote, Food & Water Watch Central New Jersey Senior Organizer Charlie Kratovil issued the following statement:

“This victory would not have been possible if it weren’t for the outstanding and fast action by the community. It was a great team effort and a win for not only New Brunswick, but also the surrounding communities who came out to support our efforts. It was very encouraging to see so many young people come out as well. This was a powerful and unifying moment for our  movement.”

In October, Food & Water Watch became the first national group to call for a data center moratorium. Over 250+ organizations have since joined the call.