Council passes data center moratorium 9-0

Select Board · Meeting of November 5, 2026

Northampton's City Council approved a one-year data center moratorium 9-0 on a roll call. Councilor Stratton's amendment exempting installations under 250 kilowatts failed with one yes, seven no and one abstention. Councilors said the select committee studying the issue could later recommend changes.

The council also kept a single tax rate for fiscal 2027 on a unanimous voice vote, and Director Nardi asked for the classification document to be signed that night. A $35,000 transfer for an ambulance power load system moved to the consent agenda, and councilors approved an Eversource easement and a Reparations Study Committee extension. The fire chief said a cheaper vendor supplied twice as many ballistic vests for about half the earlier price.

In the full story:

• NORTHAMPTON — November 5, 2026 —
• Tax classification for fiscal 2027
• Ambulance and ballistic gear funding
• Spring Grove Cemetery easement
• Data center moratorium, order 26.125
• Reparations Study Committee extension
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,519 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of November 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.