New Hampshire data center plan scrapped after community uproar over noise and water fears
A controversial proposal to build a data center in the small New Hampshire town of Nottingham collapsed at the last minute, with the developer pulling the plug just hours before a packed town meeting expected to be dominated by opposition.
The project, backed by local developer Thomas Moulton under Nottingham Business Park LLC, had ignited fierce backlash from residents worried about noise, water pollution, and the industrialization of their rural community. A Change.org petition opposing the project garnered more than 25,000 signatures, reflecting deep-seated anxiety over the rapid spread of data centers into residential and natural areas.
Tracey Stickney, a coordinator for Nottingham's Planning Department, told Business Insider the withdrawal was not surprising given the intensity of local sentiment. “There was a lot of opposition, so I'm not surprised. It was nice to see people come together and care about their community,” she said.
The fight in Nottingham mirrors a growing wave of resistance across the United States. From Virginia to Georgia to Texas, communities are pushing back against data center developments that they say strain water supplies, consume massive amounts of electricity, generate constant noise, and transform rural landscapes into industrial corridors. As Big Tech companies race to build infrastructure for AI and cloud computing, smaller towns increasingly find themselves caught between economic promises and environmental risks.
Brad Weit, a Nottingham-area resident who started the petition, said locals felt blindsided by the proposal. “I grew up hunting and fishing in these woods. I value the beauty of New Hampshire, and I would like to keep it, especially in a small town like Nottingham, where it's not very industrial at all,” he told Business Insider. He added that the region has already been in a severe drought for years, making water-intensive data centers a particular concern.
In a statement, Moulton said the withdrawal was “without prejudice” to allow for additional research and to determine whether the site was appropriate for such a use. He acknowledged the project became consumed by “misconception and misinformation,” including online claims that the company planned a 40-acre building when the actual footprint would have been about 4 acres.
“I think the biggest thing is the environmental concerns,” Moulton said. “If we assemble truthful and accurate information, and present it fairly and transparently, then let everybody make their mind up — if they don't want it, they don't want it.”
Moulton argued the project could have brought a significant tax windfall to Nottingham, which has a limited commercial tax base. “It's kind of like hitting a lottery ticket when it comes to tax revenue,” he said. But by Tuesday afternoon, he decided to temporarily retreat rather than fight the backlash, which he said included threats against his life.
“I'm not some guy from New York trying to do a housing development and do it irresponsibly,” Moulton said. “I live in the community, I want to do the right thing.”
For residents like Weit, those assurances were not enough. The episode underscores a broader tension: as demand for digital infrastructure surges, local governments and residents are demanding tighter regulations and environmental scrutiny — especially in communities unaccustomed to hosting massive technology projects. Nottingham's fight, though localized, reflects a national debate about how to balance economic development with quality of life and environmental stewardship.