Planning Board recommends battery, data center moratoriums
Planning Board · Meeting of September 21, 2026
Leominster Planning Board recommends twin moratoriums on battery storage and data centers. City Councilor at Large Claire Freda's petitions, both running through July 31, 2027 if adopted, drew pointed public comment: Nexamp representative Eric Barron warned "the state has been actively rejecting moratorium" in other communities, while resident Kalia Zawati cited World Resources Institute and MIT research showing a single AI data center can draw as much power as 100,000 homes and that data centers nationally could need up to 32 billion gallons of water annually by 2028. Both recommendations passed unanimously.
Separately, the board gave final approval, with conditions on lighting, landscaping and architectural elevations, to an eight-unit multifamily project at 396 Main Street, and allowed Lascotti Development to withdraw without prejudice a preliminary subdivision off Orchard Hill Park Extension.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,453 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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