UPDATE: Dear Readers: Apologies. I wanted to use a recent photo of Council Member Astor, but the screen shot I obtained was fuzzy. In an effort to sharpen the resolution, the image changed significantly and I didn’t notice. This was entirely my fault. The image provided below is an older photo, unedited.
You are hearing about data centers in the news. Their massive use of water, their noise, heat, and the way they cause energy bills to increase. But could they really be an issue in Mount Holly? Yes. Our town may not be a prime location, but there are parcels which could host such a facility.
That’s why council member Tara Astor decided to reach out to Assembly member Balvir Singh for a model ordinance that would prohibit data centers in Mount Holly.
"I reached out to Balvir after seeing the information he was sharing on social media about data centers, Flock and techno feudalism (we're both fans of Yannis Varoufakis!).
Balvir sent the ordinance template for a data center ban and council voted unanimously to support my motion compelling our solicitor to draft and present the ordinance to council.”
Astor added that “once the solicitor drafts and presents it to council, it will take two council meetings (introduction and adoption) and then go to the zoning/planning board which can adopt it. Basically it updates the municipal master plan, prohibiting data centers.”
Thank goodness we have at least 2 competent counsil members!