Templeton adopts temporary moratorium on data centers but rejects battery storage moratorium

Town Meeting voters approved a citizen petition imposing a 60-day moratorium on data centers (Article 38) and considered two related petitions on energy siting but rejected others.

Petitioner Rachel Herman described the moratorium as a pause to give the planning board, board of health and town staff time to research siting, safety and environmental effects. “We need health, scientific and environmental specialists to be consulted to figure out how to manage these types of activities,” Herman said.

Multiple speakers raised specific public‑safety and infrastructure concerns. Gage Pacier told the meeting that data centers can raise local temperatures and alter hydrology; the local fire chief, David Dickey, warned that the department currently lacks staffing and equipment to fight large battery or industrial fires and that such facilities would need thorough plan review and decommissioning bonds.

A related Article 39 — an interim restriction moratorium on battery energy storage systems — failed to attain the required two‑thirds vote. Supporters said battery installations can present thermal, chemical and fire hazards and require planning for decommissioning; opponents and others asked for clear definitions and assurances that ordinary residential electric‑vehicle batteries or rooftop solar would not be unintentionally restricted.

Article 40, a petition to define “heavy manufacturing” and exclude certain industrial uses, also failed to secure two‑thirds. Petitioners said the measures aim to protect water resources, limit diesel backups and preserve community character pending clearer state siting rules.

Article 38 passed; Articles 39 and 40 failed the two‑thirds threshold.