NBC10 Boston · September 8, 2026
AI data centers in Massachusetts as Healey plans an announcement – NBC Boston
## Gov. Maura Healey is planning a 1:30 p.m. Massachusetts State House presser to make an announcement on data centers in the Bay State.
#### By Kaitlin McKinley Becker and Brianna Borghi • Published 40 minutes ago • Updated 39 minutes ago
Gov. Maura Healey is scheduled to host a press conference Tuesday afternoon to make an announcement regarding data centers in Massachusetts.
The presser is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House. Further details about the announcement weren't immediately available.
The debate around artificial intelligence data centers is one of the rare modern issues that seems to have cut across party lines, demographics and geography.
An NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey, conducted from Aug. 20 through Sept. 1, found that 69% of respondents oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local area, with 45% saying they “strongly oppose” the idea.
Neighbors say a Lowell artificial intelligence facility has impacted their quality of life.
As artificial intelligence fuels demand for data centers nationwide, Massachusetts has been grappling with how to balance the industry's economic benefits with concerns over its environmental impact.
Supporters say data centers create high-paying jobs, attract investment and strengthen the state's digital infrastructure. Critics argue that the facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity and water while creating air and noise pollution.
The debate has been playing out in Lowell, where the Markley Group invested more than $600 million to transform the former Prince Spaghetti factory into a 14-acre data center campus, which the company said is different from the hyperscale data centers driven by the AI boom.
Before Markley purchased the property in 2015, the site had sat vacant for nearly two decades. As the facility continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled union labor.
Markley said it’s still building out about half of its available space. Converting an empty room into a fully operational suite takes about six to eight months.
Political commentator Sue O'Connell talks about the issues members of both parties are taking with artificial intelligence and data centers.
Environmental advocates say the rapid growth of data centers comes with significant tradeoffs.
Quentin Good, a policy analyst with Frontier Group, said hyperscale data centers require enormous amounts of electricity. He also pointed to concerns about air and noise pollution in surrounding communities.
Massachusetts is home to roughly 50 data centers, most of them located in Greater Boston.
In 2024, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a tax incentive to encourage data center development. But Healey pressed pause in June. She laid out new expectations for future projects and said developers should protect communities from higher energy costs while addressing environmental concerns.
The new framework aimed to support responsible data center growth while ensuring host communities are not left to bear the costs, but the debate over data centers continues across Massachusetts. As AI drives demand for more computing power, state leaders are trying to strike a balance between encouraging data center growth and protecting the communities that host the facilities.
Lowell and Mansfield have approved moratoriums on new data center development, while Holyoke was the first city in the state to enact a citywide ban.