Hudson MA proposed data center moratorium (2026)
Hudson, MA — Planning Board Recommends a Data Center Moratorium Through December 31, 2027; Town Meeting Vote November 16, 2026 (September 2026)
Hudson, MA · Hudson, MA Planning Board 5-0 recommendation (Sept. 15, 2026); warrant article for Nov. 16, 2026 Special Town Meeting
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Developers proposing data centers in Hudson (if adopted)
- Enforced by
- Town of Hudson (Planning and Community Development; Building Commissioner)
Hudson's Planning Board voted 5-0 on September 15, 2026 to recommend a moratorium on data center development that would last until December 31, 2027. The goal is to give the town time to write a zoning bylaw that gives it more say over what gets built. Town Meeting will vote on the warrant article at the Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 16, 2026. Town planning staff said the former Intel headquarters at 75 Reed Road is not covered, because a 2023 subdivision plan froze the zoning for that parcel.
Who is protected: Hudson, MA residents
Legal detail
Proposed warrant article (temporary zoning moratorium) for the Hudson, MA November 16, 2026 Special Town Meeting (6:30 p.m., Hudson High School). Planning Board vote: 5-0, Tuesday September 15, 2026, after a public hearing attended by about 20 residents (none opposed). Term: through December 31, 2027. Warrant language quoted in reporting: 'during the moratorium period, the Town shall conduct a comprehensive planning process to understand the potential land use, environmental, infrastructure, public safety, and fiscal impacts associated with such facilities, [and] evaluate best practices and regulatory approaches.' Director of Planning and Community Development Kristina Johnson stated a 2023 definitive subdivision plan filed by Intel 'effectively freezes zoning' for 75 Reed Road (now owned by National Development), so new zoning restrictions would not apply there. NOT ESTABLISHED: warrant article number, size thresholds or definitions in the article, whether Town Meeting adopts it (a zoning bylaw amendment ordinarily requires a two-thirds Town Meeting vote in MA — not stated in the source), Attorney General approval timing.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Hudson, MA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | Hudson, MA Planning Board 5-0 recommendation (Sept. 15, 2026); warrant article for Nov. 16, 2026 Special Town Meeting |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | Hudson Planning Board votes for moratorium on data centers; Town Meeting vote forthcoming — Community Advocate |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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