New Jersey’s Growing Backlash Against Big Tech: Bayonne Becomes Latest Municipality to Ban Data Centers

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Bayonne NJ, A grassroots movement sweeping across the Garden State has scored another major victory. Bayonne, New Jersey has officially become the latest municipality to enact a complete ban on commercial data centers, following a unanimous 5-0 city council vote and approval from Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski on August 13, 2026.

According to climate advocacy group Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN), Bayonne marks the 32nd municipality in New Jersey to pass restrictions or outright bans on data center developments—reflecting a rising wave of public pushback against large-scale AI and tech infrastructure.

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How Community Activism Stopped Big Tech in Bayonne

The push to ban data centers in Bayonne began in late 2025, when plans for a proposed facility triggered intense local opposition. Residents packed council meetings for months, turning data center regulation into the central issue of the city’s May mayoral elections.

Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski and her council slate ran on an explicit anti-data center platform and swept into office.

“We showed that the people can fight back and that we’re the ones who have power, not the developers. We came together as a community to fight back against corporate greed… and we won.”

— Jennah Reddick, Bayonne resident and grassroots organizer

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A Statewide Trend: Jersey City, Paramus, and Beyond

Bayonne is far from alone in its stance:

• Jersey City: Municipal leaders introduced an ordinance to ban data centers as the primary use of industrial property, aiming to protect industrial land for higher job-creating uses. A final vote is set for August 19, 2026.

• Paramus: Officials in Paramus, NJ, are evaluating similar municipal bans on commercial data centers.

• Broad Public Support: A Stockton University poll revealed that a majority of New Jersey voters express concern over AI data center expansion, with 56% supporting local bans in their own towns.

Environmental groups including CRAN, North New Jersey DSA, Friends of Liberty State Park, and State Senator Angela McKnight (District 31) have joined forces to challenge further data center construction across the state.

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The Debate: Economic Growth vs. Environmental & Utility Concerns

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence requires massive infrastructure, leading to a tense debate across New Jersey:

Economic Arguments for Data Centers	Public & Environmental Concerns
Job creation in tech and construction	Spikes in local utility rates and energy strain
Expanded municipal tax revenues	Massive water usage for cooling systems
Increased local property values	Noise pollution and local environmental degradation

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Statewide Regulation: Governor Mikie Sherrill Steps In

In response to growing public concern, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill introduced a statewide framework designed to manage the energy, water, and community impacts of large data centers.

Additionally, state legislation signed on July 7 holds utility companies and data center operators accountable while delivering utility bill credits to millions of New Jersey households affected by rising energy demands.

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