Town Opens Hearing on Data Center Moratorium
Southbridge held a joint hearing on draft solar, battery storage and data center zoning, drawing overwhelming opposition to data centers.
Town Council and Planning Board Joint Hearing · Meeting of September 16, 2026
Southbridge held a joint hearing on draft solar, battery storage and data center zoning, drawing overwhelming opposition to data centers. Planning Board Chair Dave Payer and Vice Chair Mike Loin presented a three-tier battery storage bylaw requiring fire chief sign-off, ahead of an October 6 state deadline for default rules. More than twenty residents spoke against a future data center, including IT engineer Stephanie Rivers, who said facility noise reaches "105 dBA" outside large sites.
Resident Rick Stoddard called for a ban on nondisclosure agreements with data center firms and a 55-decibel noise cap. Councilor Daniel said he would "not vote to support any kind of a facility like that." No votes were taken; the moratorium and both bylaws still require three town council readings.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,513 words
Source: the Town Council and Planning Board Joint Hearing meeting of September 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Members read the rest of this story and every Worcester County meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this story
Know someone in Worcester County who follows town government? Share Townbrief Worcester County: they can sign up free.