This coverage is made possible through a partnership between BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
A bustling crowd filled Canton’s town hall on Wednesday night, as the Board of Aldermen deliberated on a crucial community decision. The board approved a 12-month halt on new developments of data centers, server farms, and cryptocurrency mining, a move that has stirred both concern and support among residents.
This decision emerged not from immediate need but as a precautionary measure. Interest from companies outside Canton in repurposing the town’s decommissioned paper mill site for data centers spurred the discussion, although no concrete plans are currently in place. For more background, see the original report.
Mayor Zeb Smathers noted that town meetings typically attract only a small group, but this time, over a hundred people gathered, some braving the cold outside to listen via loudspeaker. Concerns voiced largely centered around the potential impact on local resources, such as energy and water.
Tabbitha Ross, a local farmer, highlighted worries about water usage, recalling how the previous paper mill’s activity affected the town’s water supply. “So, if the mill didn’t have enough water to run,” questioned Ross, “then how is this center going to have enough water to run?” Data centers can consume 300,000 to 5 million gallons of water daily.
In addition to environmental concerns, the community is grappling with economic challenges following the paper mill’s closure, which resulted in over 1,000 job losses. Residents questioned whether a data center could adequately replace these jobs. According to the Wall Street Journal, data centers might offer up to a hundred permanent positions, with additional temporary construction jobs.
Anthony Rickman, a former mill worker, stressed the need for industries that would bring substantial employment. “We need something, some type of light industry or some type of business that’s going to generate jobs,” he remarked.
The unanimous decision by the board included reflections on the town’s industrial legacy. Alderman Ralph Hamlett reminisced about the polluted Pigeon River during the mill’s operation, highlighting the importance of careful planning for future developments. “We know now the massive cleanup required at the former mill site and mitigation necessary to make that land safe again,” Hamlett stated.
Mayor Smathers and the board view this moratorium as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan for Canton’s future. The focus is on marrying environmental care with economic growth as the town develops new zoning and economic strategies for its post-paper mill trajectory.
The imposed 12-month pause affects the processing and approval of permits related to data centers, server farms, and crypto mines. Throughout the year, Canton will explore ordinances to potentially regulate new data center ventures.
