The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Bethlehem Township
Mixed Data Center Policies
New Jersey requires large data centers to cover much of their electricity costs and offer demand flexibility; reporting and construction rules add paperwork and costs. Tax incentives are available only to qualifying projects, while regulators study possible electricity-cost effects.
Rating and summary from New Jersey statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Bethlehem Township.
pending · Bethlehem TownshipWould amend Bethlehem Township’s land-development code to define data centers as a separate principal land use and prohibit them throughout the Township, citing concerns about electricity and water use, noise, emissions, infrastructure burdens, and related equipment risks (Ordinance #506.2026).New Jersey Ordinance #506.2026 (2026)
What this means
If enacted, the measure would ban data centers in every zoning district, effectively preventing them from being built or operated in the township. Its narrow exception for small computer systems serving a business on the same property does not allow data center operations.
People behind it
- Township Committee of the Township of Bethlehem
Proposed, enacted, and introduced Ordinance #506.2026; passed it on first reading and is responsible for final consideration.
- Christine Dispenza, RMC / CMR, Municipal Clerk
Issued and signed the notice of introduction for Ordinance #506.2026.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5
Data centers, hyperscale or enterprise data centers, colocation facilities, and digital-asset or cryptocurrency-mining facilities are prohibited in every Bethlehem Township zoning district.
Data centers may not be approved or operated as accessory, secondary, or conditional uses of an otherwise permitted use.
Redevelopment plans, rehabilitation plans, conditional-use standards, and overlay districts may not be interpreted to allow a data center unless the Township Committee adopts an affirmative amendment specifically authorizing it.
Data centers are a separate principal land-use category and may not be classified as warehouses, distribution facilities, offices, laboratories, industrial uses, public utilities, essential services, telecommunications facilities, or other generic uses to avoid the prohibition.
The limited exemption for routine accessory business data equipment applies only when it serves the permitted occupant on the same lot, occupies less than 10% of the principal building's floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less, provides no colocation, third-party hosting, digital-asset mining, or off-site commercial cloud services, and does not require dedicated substations, high-voltage upgrades, cooling towers, or external industrial generator arrays.
Sources
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