Data Centers in Branchburg, Explained: What Was Said in 2026

The short version

• On July 27, 2026, resident Jay Tilek asked the Township Committee to consider an ordinance prohibiting data centers. Mayor James Schworn said an outright ban could be difficult because smaller data-related facilities already exist, and that the Township had begun evaluating the impact of large-scale data centers.
• On September 14, 2026, resident Mike Dolan asked the Township to weigh data centers’ benefits and drawbacks before adopting any ban. Mr. Thomas Young, Mayor Schworn and Mr. David Owens responded.
• The Committee has taken no action: no ordinance, zoning amendment or resolution on data centers has been introduced, and no data-center application is before the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.

July 27: a request for a prohibition

During public comment at the July 27, 2026 Committee meeting, Jay Tilek of 514 Horizon Way said he has been a Branchburg resident for 13 years and is a candidate for a Township Committee seat at the upcoming election. According to the minutes, he:

• asked the Committee to consider an ordinance prohibiting the development of data centers in the Township;
• said the Township should act before a data-center application is submitted, to protect the community’s character and resources;
• said large-scale data centers consume a significant amount of electricity and other local resources, and that some neighboring towns have adopted ordinances restricting or prohibiting them.

The minutes record two responses:

• Mayor Schworn said Verizon currently has a presence in the Township, which could make an outright ban difficult, as smaller data-related facilities already exist. He said the Township had begun evaluating the potential impact of large-scale data centers and shares concerns about placing additional strain on local resources.
• Mr. Young said the Township will review measures adopted by other towns, but cautioned against unintended consequences from overly constricted regulations. He said the Township must also consider preserving appropriate and legitimate uses that support the operations of existing and future businesses.

September 14: a request to study first

During public comment at the September 14, 2026 Committee meeting, Mike Dolan, a longtime Branchburg resident, said he had read the September edition of the Branchburg News about data centers, which gave him the impression there had been public comment to consider an outright prohibition. He encouraged the Township to evaluate whether data centers are an appropriate use and to consider both their benefits and drawbacks before adopting any ban.

The minutes record three responses:

• Mr. Young said residents should review the Governor’s recent position on data centers, which he described as reasonable and balanced. He said the Township should not discourage data centers that serve legitimate business purposes, and stressed a thoughtful approach that supports economic development while addressing community concerns.
• Mayor Schworn said the New Jersey Legislature had recently passed legislation addressing data centers which is “quite robust.” He said the data-center facilities now operating in the Township provide positive ratables, and that he does not anticipate additional data centers locating in Branchburg in the near term.
• Mr. Owens said the governing body remains committed to protecting the best interests of residents while fostering an environment that allows businesses to remain, expand and contribute to the community’s growth.

The Committee took no action on data centers at either meeting. The September 14 meeting video is in the Township’s Granicus archive.

Where it stands

• No ordinance or resolution. No data-center ordinance, zoning amendment, moratorium or resolution appears in the Committee’s minutes through October 12, 2026, or on its October 26 agenda.
• No application. No data-center application appears on the Planning Board’s or Board of Adjustment’s 2026 agendas and minutes through October.
• How a rule would be made. A zoning change would be an ordinance: introduced at one Committee meeting, referred to the Planning Board for a master plan consistency review, then heard at a public hearing before a final vote.
• The minutes name no existing data-center site, megawatt load, acreage or water-use figure.

What residents can do

• Speak at public comment, as both residents did, at any regular Township Committee meeting. The Committee meets the second and fourth Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building courtroom; the next regular meeting is November 9, 2026.
• Watch the agendas. The Township’s Agendas/Minutes page links the Documents-On-Demand portal, where Committee and Planning Board agendas and minutes are posted.
• Corrections to this page can be emailed to info@localwhy.org.