Connecticut residents are sounding the alarm over the prospect of a massive new data center being built near a middle school, with locals worried about everything from electricity costs to noise, water use, and potential health impacts. While no formal application for the project has been submitted, concerns have intensified after Cromwell officials rejected a proposal that would have temporarily stopped the town from accepting new data center applications for one year.
During a September 24 meeting covered by Citizen Portal, Cromwell’s Planning and Zoning Commission considered the temporary pause as residents packed the room to voice their concerns about data centers. After roughly two hours of public comment, however, the commission voted 6-2 against the one-year pause, instead choosing to move forward with developing specific rules to govern any future data center projects.
Much of the concern centers on what a large data center could mean for the surrounding community, particularly with a middle school located nearby. Residents raised questions about the enormous amount of electricity and water such facilities can consume, as well as potential noise, air pollution from backup generators, and the impact a project could have on nearby homes and public spaces.
Notably, the potential development would be anything but small. Plans associated with the Geer Street site describe a data center campus spanning around 130 acres, with an initial capacity of up to 300 megawatts and the potential to expand even further. However, the project remains in its early stages, with no formal application submitted to the town at this time.
Importantly, the commission’s decision does not mean a data center has been given the green light. Town officials are now working on regulations specifically for data centers, which could establish requirements covering where they can be built and how future projects operate. Any formal proposal would still have to make its way through Cromwell’s approval process.
Connecticut Residents Question Data Center’s Impact on Their Community
Connecticut residents didn’t hold back when discussing the potential development, with electricity costs quickly emerging as one of the biggest concerns. “A data center coming to CT with the cost of electricity here is wild,” one Reddit user wrote. Another local made it clear that residents intend to make their voices heard, adding, “We may be small, but we are going to be very loud.”
Others were even more direct. “Put that [expletive] in Wyoming. People live here and electricity is expensive enough as it is,” one person argued. The project’s proximity to local schools was another sticking point, with one commenter writing, “You’d think they’d care a little more, being that it’s literally less than a half mile from the middle school.. but nope!” Another resident worried about the broader impact on Cromwell, adding, “I am fine with using computers and data but this will destroy the character of the town. Build it somewhere else.”
Cromwell Mayor James Demetriades also entered the discussion to clarify where things currently stand. “A developer purchased the rights/an option to develop land in Cromwell from a farmer for a possible data center,” he explained, stressing that “no applications were submitted to the town although they have held informal meetings with town staff.” His comments reinforce that while the prospect of a data center has generated considerable local discussion, no formal proposal is currently before the town for approval.
At the heart of the issue is a community questioning whether a development of this size belongs so close to their homes, schools, and public spaces. Nothing has been formally proposed yet, but residents are already making their feelings known, particularly when it comes to electricity costs and the character of their town. For Cromwell, those are questions worth asking before anything is set in stone.
