{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415807", "95.9 The Rat article'Manchester Township Introduces Ban on Artificial Intelligence Data Centers'", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By J. Mayhew\n\nPublished August 27, 2026 at 3:38 PM EDT\n\nManchester Township Council brought forth an ordinance Monday night. It bans AI data centers in the municipality. The measure, Ordinance No. 26-48, came before a packed crowd who carried signs and chanted \"No Data Centers. No Means No.\"\n\nThe ordinance repeals a measure approved in August 2025 that designated a property owned by Stavola Corporation off South Hope Chapel Road for redevelopment. That earlier legislation included a provision listing data centers as an acceptable use.\n\nCouncil President Michele Zolezi announced the repeal at the start of the public meeting session. Mayor Joseph Hankins was absent due to a prior commitment in Whiting. He attended the executive session to reiterate his opposition.\n\n\"Tonight the Council took an important step toward listening to the concerns our residents have raised,\" Hankins said after the meeting, according to Patch. \"Repealing this provision removes data centers from our redevelopment plan entirely, and reflects our commitment to ensuring that future development in Manchester Township aligns with the character, resources, and priorities of our community.\"\n\nGETTY IMAGES\n\nThe ordinance will receive a second reading, public hearing, and final vote on Sept. 14, said township attorney Lauren Staiger. It takes effect 20 days after publication following the final vote in early October.\n\nU.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who represents the area as part of New Jersey's 4th District, issued a statement Monday afternoon supporting the ban. \"AI data centers pose critical environmental risks and impose undue stresses on local resources \u2014 including water and electricity \u2014 which place significant financial burdens on ratepayers and residents,\" Smith said.\n\nResidents packed the meeting for the second time this month. A packed crowd attended the Aug. 10 council meeting after rumors spread that a developer had approached the town about building a facility in the Pine Barrens.\n\nCarl Block, the township's business administrator, said no plans have been submitted. He said the 2025 ordinance had created the only place where such a facility was possible under zoning rules, and repealing it removes that option completely.\n\nBlock said a developer could have moved forward by filing a complete application with the planning board. Getting an application deemed complete is a process that doesn't happen quickly in most cases, he said.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415807"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.012391109019518, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}