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.
Town of Westerly
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Neutral Data Center Policies
Westerly has an enacted one-year pause on most new data-center applications, though the description’s “if enacted” wording conflicts; complete, certified applications can proceed, and existing facilities are not expressly barred from operating.
Rating from Rhode Island statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Town of Westerly.
current law · Town of WesterlyThis ordinance imposes a one-year moratorium on new data-center applications and related municipal approvals in Westerly.Westerly, Rhode Island — One-Year Moratorium on Data-Center Applications
What this means
If enacted, this would impose a one-year moratorium that blocks most new data-center proposals and prevents town offices from processing non-vested applications. Existing facilities are not expressly barred from operating, and complete, certified applications can proceed, but the pause would substantially delay new building and expansion.
Timing
- Ends
- one year upon passage
The moratorium applies for one year after passage. The Town Council may provide otherwise by ordinance.
People behind it
- Westerly Town Council
Proposed, approved, and enacted the one-year data-center moratorium.
- Town of Westerly
Municipal party that proposed and enacted the ordinance through its governing authorities.
- Mary L. LeBlanc, MMC, Council Clerk
Attested the ordinance and served as the identified council-clerk official responsible for its formal record.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements6
Imposes an immediate, one-year moratorium on all data centers, including their construction and uses, unless the Town Council changes the period by ordinance.
Applies the moratorium to all proceedings, applications, and petitions that were not vested under Rhode Island General Laws § 45-24-44 when the ordinance took effect.
Prohibits the Planning Board, zoning boards, Town agencies, and Town employees from accepting, processing, approving, denying, or otherwise acting on non-vested data-center applications, plans, permits, licenses, or related fees during the moratorium.
Stays any conflicting Town land-use ordinances and land-development or subdivision regulations, to the extent they apply to data centers, for the duration of the moratorium.
Creates a vesting exception for data-center proposals for which the applicant submitted all required materials and the administrative official certified the application complete; those proposals may proceed under the regulations in effect at certification.
Excludes from the data-center definition computer, telecommunications, and data-storage equipment that is subordinate and primarily supports another lawful principal use on the same lot, such as an office, school, hospital, municipal facility, bank, retail establishment, research facility, or manufacturing facility.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3
Projects for which the applicant has submitted all required materials and received certification of completeness before the moratorium may proceed under the regulations in effect when completeness was certified.
Proceedings, applications, and petitions already vested under Rhode Island General Laws § 45-24-44 when the ordinance takes effect are excluded from the moratorium.
Computer, telecommunications, and data-storage equipment that is subordinate and customarily incidental to another lawful principal use is excluded from the data-center definition, allowing ordinary server rooms and similar supporting equipment to continue without being treated as a data center.
Sources
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