The City Council approves an ad hoc committee to study data centers and potential impacts during its Oct. 20 meeting.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
HOLYOKE — Holyoke will continue discussing data centers and their potential impacts after the City Council approved a temporary ad hoc committee during its Oct. 20 meeting.
Although the City Council banned future data centers in Holyoke at its June 16 meeting, it also filed an order during that same meeting to establish, by ordinance, a temporary ad hoc committee to study and analyze the potential impacts of commercial data center development in the city.
At its June 30 meeting, the committee sent a recommendation with amended language to the full City Council that allows the city to form a data center study committee.
City Councilor Meg Magrath-Smith, who chairs the Ordinance Subcommittee, said the item was sent back to the subcommittee for further discussion over two separate meetings.
The committee, which will expire Sept. 30, 2027, will recommend potential zoning and permitting requirements to the City Council.
Under the approved ordinance, the committee will submit a written report to the City Council by Sept. 30 detailing its findings and recommendations.
Potential impacts that will be looked at, according to the ordinance, include electrical demand, water consumption, environmental and health impacts, tax revenue, economic development opportunities, zoning considerations, public safety concerns and best practices adopted by other municipalities.
The committee will consist of nine members: one member of Holyoke Water Works or the Water Commission, one member from Holyoke Gas and Electric, one member from the Conservation Commission, one member from the Planning Department or Planning Board, one member from the Board of Health or Health Commission, one member representing the Massachusetts Green High-Performing Computing Center, one city councilor appointed by the City Council President from Ward 1 or Ward 2, and two members of the general community chosen by the City Council President and confirmed by the City Council.
Community members will be residents of the city and will neither be employees of the city nor serve on any other board or commission. Letters of interest will be submitted to the administrative assistant and will be shared with the City Council.
Other members will be designated by their respective commission or boards, and the Ward 1 or Ward 2 City Council members will be appointed by the City Council president.
Magrath-Smith said the subcommittee decided that the president will go through the letters of interest, recommend two candidates and then bring it before the City Council to either approve or strike down.
The letters of interest will also be shared with the City Council.
City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti said she supported forming the committee but has been disappointed with the process of getting it approved.
“I’ve been disappointed that it feels like there isn’t compromise. I don’t see people giving up what they want,” she stated. “I see people getting exactly what they want and just deciding what is going to happen. It’s disappointing for me as the president because you guys still did put a lot of this back on me.”
City Councilor Mimi Panitch proposed amending the rule so the Planning Board designates the Planning Department or Planning Board member instead of the Office of Planning and Development director.
She said that, despite being housed in the same official administrative unit, they feel like two separate departments with different functions. The amendment passed 8-5.
The City Council approved forming the ad hoc committee by an 11-2 vote. Murphy-Romboletti said she will report back to the City Council with her councilor appointment and two recommendations.
Under the ordinance, future meetings will be recorded and posted on Holyoke Media, and minutes will be taken.
