Andover Residents Force Reversal on Proposed Data Center Development

The pivot marks a significant retreat for local leaders who initially championed the project as a primary revenue source. Mayor Walsh acknowledged the intensity of the pushback, stating that no amount of municipal income justifies the deep social divisions caused by the proposal. The decision follows a volatile town hall meeting where a resident was forcibly removed by police, an incident that drew widespread scrutiny after footage of the arrest surfaced.

Data centers have increasingly become flashpoints for local friction nationwide, with critics citing concerns over extreme energy consumption, rising utility costs, and noise pollution. While Andover officials have opted to appease local concerns, the broader battle over AI infrastructure continues to escalate. Federal lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have pushed for a national moratorium on such construction until stricter safeguards are established. Conversely, Silicon Valley interests are pouring at least $100 million into a super PAC, Leading the Future, to elect candidates who favor federal preemption of local AI regulations.