--- title: "Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Boston" url: https://www.hereboston.com/data-center-boston-ma/ date: 2026-11-06T05:48:20-05:00 modified: 2026-11-06T05:48:20-05:00 author: "" site: "HERE Boston" attribution: "HERE Boston" --- # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Boston > Data centers near Boston, MA: who decides — zoning, city council, the Mass. Department of Public Utilities — plus news and official links from HERE Boston. *Source: [HERE Boston](https://www.hereboston.com/data-center-boston-ma/) — November 6, 2026 by * [Home](https://www.hereboston.com/)›[Politics](https://www.hereboston.com/politics-boston-ma/)›Data Center Resource CenterBoston MA Politics & Government · Politics of Data # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Boston Who decides where data centers go near Boston — **zoning and planning**, the **local elected board**, the **county**, the **state utility commission**, and **environmental permits** — plus what is on file and reporting from across the HERE network. Zoning & PlanningCity CouncilCountyUtility CommissionPermitsGrid Politics of Data ## Who Decides on Data Centers Near Boston DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR BOSTON No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Boston's reporting yet. If a proposal arrives, these are the people and agencies that would decide it, and this section will track it every week. A data center in or near Boston would first need local land-use approval through Boston Planning Department. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. **National context:** Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. [U.S. Department of Energy report](https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers) ### What’s on file near Boston - **Nothing on file yet**No local data-center vote, rezoning, or application is on file in HERE Boston's reporting yet. When one is filed, it will appear here first. ### Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits #### Zoning & Planning - [**Boston Planning Department**Zoning rules, rezoning requests, and site plan review→](https://www.bostonplans.org/) #### State Utility Regulator - [**Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities**State utility regulator; reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees→](https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-utilities) #### Environmental, Water & Air Permits - [**Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection**Issues air, water, and wastewater permits for large facilities→](https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-environmental-protection) #### Regional Grid Operator - [**ISO New England**Runs the regional grid and studies requests to connect large new loads→](https://www.iso-ne.com/) ### From across the HERE network - ●From HERE RaleighNov 3, 2026 · NC #### Raleigh Data Center Expansion Slips in Ahead of Moratorium RALEIGH, N.C. — A planned data center expansion in west Raleigh will be reviewed under the city’s old rules because the application landed four days before… - ●From HERE NashvilleNov 2, 2026 · TN #### Tennessee Data Centers Spread as Towns Push Back NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee now has somewhere between 60 and 65 data centers in operation, and a growing list of local governments wants to slow down… - ●From HERE SavannahNov 2, 2026 · GA #### OpenAI Data Center Plan Up for Vote Tuesday in Springfield SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County commissioners meeting in Springfield, Ga., are scheduled to decide Tuesday evening whether to approve site plans for Project Camellia, the large… - ●From HERE LansingOct 31, 2026 · MI #### Delhi Township Board Votes Against Proposed Holt Data Center DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Three days after regional developers floated a giant data center for Delhi Township, the township board voted 6-0 Friday night to go… - ●From HERE San AntonioOct 30, 2026 · TX #### New Data Centers Need Council Approval in San Antonio SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Every new data center proposed inside San Antonio will now need a public hearing and a City Council vote. Council members approved… - ●From HERE LansingOct 29, 2026 · MI #### Delhi Township Quits LEAP a Day After $10B Data Center Pitch DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Delhi Township has walked away from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, ending its membership Wednesday, just one day after the regional economic… - ●From HERE Oklahoma CityOct 29, 2026 · OK #### Council Clears Rezoning for Data Center in Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — A large data center planned on the west side of Oklahoma City, Okla., cleared a key hurdle Tuesday, when the City Council… - ●From HERE SavannahOct 29, 2026 · GA #### Savannah Opens Survey on Data Center Zoning Rules SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah wants to hear from the public before it writes its first local rules for data centers. On Wednesday the city posted an… - ●From HERE ColumbiaOct 27, 2026 · SC #### Data Center Rules Set to Headline SC Legislative Session COLUMBIA, S.C. — How South Carolina handles the wave of proposed data centers is shaping up as one of the biggest fights waiting for the General… HERE Boston · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for Boston A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Boston are next. Leave your email and HERE Boston will send it as soon as it is published. Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Boston readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE Boston updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Boston newsletter list. Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026. Questions & Answers ## Data Centers Near Boston: FAQ ### Who approves a data center rezoning near Boston? Rezonings and site plans go through local land-use officials: in Boston that is Boston Planning Department. Planning commissions hold public hearings and recommend; the elected board casts the final vote. ### Who approves large power contracts for data centers in Massachusetts? The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is the state utility regulator. It reviews rates and the large-customer contracts and tariffs that utilities it oversees propose for data centers. ### Which Massachusetts agency issues environmental permits for a data center? The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issues the air, water, and wastewater permits a large facility needs, including permits for backup generators. ### How can a Boston resident weigh in on a data center? Speak or submit written comments at planning commission and council or board meetings, where agendas are posted in advance, and file public comments in utility cases at the state commission. The official links on this page go straight to those bodies. ### Is a data center proposed in Boston? No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Boston's reporting yet. This page is updated weekly, and any proposal will appear here first. ### Who runs the power grid serving Boston? ISO New England operates the regional grid and studies requests to connect large new loads such as data centers. HERE City Network ## Data Center Coverage Across HERE Resource centers for other HERE cities [Ann Arbor, MI](https://www.hereannarbor.com/data-center-annarbor-mi/)[Detroit, MI](https://www.heredetroitmi.com/data-center-detroit-mi/)[Grand Rapids, MI](https://www.heregrandrapids.com/data-center-grandrapids-mi/)[Lansing, MI](https://www.herelansing.com/data-center-lansing-mi/)[Northville, MI](https://www.herenorthville.com/data-center-northville-mi/)[Novi, MI](https://www.herenovi.com/data-center-novi-mi/)[Plymouth, MI](https://www.hereplymouth.com/data-center-plymouth-mi/)[Baltimore, MD](https://www.herebaltimore.com/data-center-baltimore-md/)[Cincinnati, OH](https://www.herecincinnati.com/data-center-cincinnati-oh/)[Cleveland, OH](https://www.herecleveland.com/data-center-cleveland-oh/)[Dayton, OH](https://www.heredayton.com/data-center-dayton-oh/)[Las Vegas, NV](https://www.herelasvegas.com/data-center-las-vegas-nv/)[Back to Boston Politics & Government →](https://www.hereboston.com/politics-boston-ma/)