72% Oppose Data Centers In Their Town, New NJ Poll Finds As Sayreville Rejects Another Ban
A new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll finds most New Jersey residents don’t want data centers built in their communities. In Sayreville, officials remain divided over whether to ban them permanently or continue studying possible regulations.
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SAYREVILLE, NJ — Nearly three out of four New Jersey residents oppose having a data center built in their town, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Friday.
The findings come just three days after Sayreville’s Borough Council rejected another attempt to permanently ban data centers, with Mayor Kennedy O’Brien casting the deciding vote against the proposal.
The October 16 poll found that 72% of New Jersey adults oppose a data center in their municipality, while 21% support one.
The results add statewide context to an issue that has repeatedly divided Sayreville officials and residents as the borough considers what role, if any, data centers should have in its future.
What The New Poll Found
The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll found that opposition to data centers extends beyond residents’ immediate neighborhoods.
When asked about construction in different locations, respondents said:
- 72% oppose a data center in their own town or city.
- 64% oppose one in a neighboring county.
- 62% oppose data centers being built anywhere in New Jersey.
The survey also asked residents to weigh the potential benefits of data centers, including jobs and tax revenue, against concerns about electricity use, water consumption and higher utility bills.
A majority, 55%, said the costs outweigh the benefits, while 11% believed the benefits outweigh the costs. Another 19% said they were about equal.
Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, said opposition extended across the groups surveyed.
“What stands out about data centers is that no group reaches majority support anywhere – not in their own town, not in a neighboring county, not in the state at large,” Koning said.
The poll surveyed 1,004 New Jersey adults September 24–27 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
The results reflect statewide opinion, not a separate survey of Sayreville residents.
Sayreville’s Latest Attempt To Ban Data Centers Fails
At the Borough Council’s October 13 meeting, Councilman Herve Blemur again called for a permanent ban, pointing to concerns previously raised by the Sayreville Environmental Commission.
Blemur referenced an April 8 letter from the commission requesting that data centers be removed as a permitted use from the redevelopment plan for the former Hercules industrial property.
The commission cited potential long-term environmental and ecological damage that could occur if a data center were built at the site.
Blemur questioned why the borough should consider allowing data centers near residential neighborhoods when environmental concerns had already been raised about another portion of the redevelopment area.
“Because of that, I repeat, I’ll make a motion to ban data centers in Sayreville,” Blemur said.
The council split 3–3.
Blemur, Councilwoman Mary Novak and Councilman Alberto Rios supported the ban. Council members Michael Colaci, Stanley Synarski and Council President John Zebrowski opposed it.
O’Brien broke the tie by voting no, defeating the proposal.
Why Some Council Members Want More Time
The disagreement at Borough Hall isn’t simply over whether data centers should be allowed. Council members also differ over how the borough should regulate them.
Sayreville adopted an 18-month moratorium in July, temporarily pausing new data center development while officials evaluate potential impacts and possible restrictions.
The moratorium is not a permanent ban.
Zebrowski has argued that Sayreville needs legally sound regulations before attempting to prohibit data centers altogether.
“This is a land use law, right?” Zebrowski said during the October 13 meeting.
He said the borough needs regulations that would support restrictions and better protect the community, rather than adopting a prohibition that might not withstand a legal challenge.
Synarski also opposed the latest ban, pointing to the plan already in place.
The October 13 vote leaves the temporary moratorium in effect while the borough continues considering longer-term regulations.
Could Data Centers Bring Economic Benefits?
While the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll shows substantial public opposition, the economic debate surrounding data centers is more complicated.
Data centers house the computer equipment that supports websites, online banking, cloud services and artificial intelligence.
They can require substantial electricity and, depending on their cooling systems, water. Supporters point to construction jobs, tax revenue and investment, while opponents raise questions about utility costs, environmental effects and whether the benefits justify the resources used.
In an October 16 article, New Jersey business publication BINJE examined whether the statewide poll captures the full range of issues involved in data center development.
The publication highlighted arguments from utility and construction-industry representatives that data centers can support economic activity and that their electricity costs must be considered within the larger regional power system.
But the poll itself did not measure how much respondents knew about those issues.
Koning told BINJE that public attitudes are still developing as residents learn more about the technology and its potential effects.
At Sayreville’s October 13 meeting, resident Tom Fritzen, who said he works in information technology and artificial intelligence, also encouraged officials to consider both sides before making a permanent decision.
“I think tax-wise, if you put data centers in here, it’ll probably be a good windfall,” Fritzen said.
He suggested officials examine approaches taken in Pennsylvania and consider whether different technology and operating requirements could reduce potential impacts.
Those comments reflected his assessment, not an announced data center proposal or a financial estimate prepared for Sayreville.
What Happens Next In Sayreville?
The borough’s 18-month moratorium remains in place.
Officials can continue studying issues such as electricity demand, environmental protections and the legal requirements for regulating data center development before deciding what permanent rules to adopt.
The latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll provides a broader look at public opinion as Sayreville considers those decisions, but it does not establish how borough residents would vote on a particular proposal.
For now, the council has again declined to adopt a permanent ban, leaving the larger question about data centers in Sayreville unresolved.
Residents can review the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll results and find Borough Council meeting materials and recordings on the borough’s website.
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