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South Brunswick, NJ – Dozens of South Brunswick residents and local activists confronted Governor Sherrill at the South Brunswick Library at the signing of bill S3379 today, calling on her to enact a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. Activists assembled outside the library, chanting as Governor Sherrill and state and local elected officials entered the building.     

The signing took place just a few miles away from a proposed data center in South Brunswick Township. Meanwhile, neighboring towns of East Brunswick and North Brunswick passed bans on Monday night. 

S3379 is part of a package of bills and regulations proposed by the governor in May as “guardrails” around the development of AI data centers in New Jersey. The bill puts into place reporting requirements on energy and water usage by data centers; however, the legislation relies on ‘self-reporting’ of these figures, and information collected by the State will not be subject to the Open Public Records Act.

Advocates say that S3379 and the other pieces of the Governor’s Comprehensive Plan on Data Centers don’t go far enough to protect New Jerseyans from the increased costs and environmental impacts of the developments, and are calling on the Governor to enact a statewide moratorium on data center construction until effective regulations are in place.

In April, a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll found that 65% of New Jerseyans support a temporary moratorium on data center construction. 

“Simply reporting big tech’s rampant energy and water consumption will not protect New Jersey residents from the myriad harms caused by data centers. Governor Sherrill must prioritize the needs of the public, take real action, and enact a statewide moratorium on all hyperscale data centers harming communities with high electric bills, noise and water pollution, and sprawl,” said Matt Smith, NJ State Director for Food & Water Watch.

“The only responsible way NJ should move forward with regards to AI data centers is to put the brakes on them,” stated Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action. “No permits should be considered until strict protective and enforceable regulations are adopted at the state level including good government practices – like full transparency and robust public involvement from permit to operation.  The NJ legislation being signed today does nothing to protect us against the clear and present danger of data centers. If anything, it just tells how much we have poisoned our water and air after the fact.” 

“Data center reporting for energy and water use AFTER the damage is done is the antithesis of guardrails. New Jersey is paving the way for data centers to contaminate our air and waterways while leaving the public to suffer. We demand more of our government officials – pass a moratorium now,” said Jaclyn Rhoads, Ph.D. , Executive Director, Pinelands Alliance.

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