Overview
- Governor Maura Healey has halted acceptance of applications for the state's 20‑year Qualified Data Center sales‑and‑use tax exemption until stronger protections are in place.
- The administration says it has not received any applications for the incentive since final regulations were issued and will hold off on approvals while applying the new guidance.
- The guidance requires operators to 'bring your own clean energy' to meet 100% of demand, avoid shifting costs to other energy customers, and limit air, noise and water harms to host communities.
- Local concerns cited by officials and neighbors include heavy water use and continuous hums from facilities, with one large Massachusetts center reporting 60,000–120,000 gallons of water used per day.
- The move follows growing state and local efforts nationwide to tighten oversight of large data centers and could lead to revised permitting rules or new legislation that demands developer‑funded grid or water fixes.