DIXFIELD — After some debate and many questions, residents voted decisively Sept. 14 to enact a 180-day moratorium on data centers while town officials gather information about them.

The secret ballot vote was 35-3, and the moratorium took effect immediately.

The decision came during an hourlong special town meeting at Ludden Memorial Library.

The Select Board recommended the 180 days “to gather information regarding the potential effect of data centers on the local energy grid and environment and to develop and implement ordinances and regulations necessary to address these development pressures and protect the public health and safety and welfare of the town’s residents.”

A data center houses groups of networked computers, servers and data storage infrastructure. These allow organizations to safely store, process, share and manage digital information and applications that power everyday internet services. They also consume large amounts of electricity and water.

A debate got underway after a couple residents said they’ve heard rumors about a data center coming to Dixfield. Resident Dan McKay asked, “And have they approached anybody about it?”

Select Board member Pete Holman said no one has requested permits for a data center.

Some criticized reactions to rumors about a possible data center, including one rumor that said one was going to be proposed by the old Twin River Lumber on Main Street.

McKay responded, “We’re voting because of a rumor.”

Larry Whittington, who served as moderator at the meeting, said, “I’m not discounting anything that you said, or what you said, but you’ve got to remember, rumors are rampant when it comes to this.”

Fire Chief Scott Dennett, who was assistant moderator for the meeting, said that if the moratorium is passed, but nothing is done and it expires, the permitting process would be allowed.

“If it’s more than a rumor and somebody out there is interested, I think we should be able to listen to what his proposal is, regardless,” McKay said.

Elizabeth Kelly, a former member of the planning board, said, the 180-day moratorium will allow town officials to gather more information about possible pros and cons of a data center.

“The planning board is the one that’s going to be writing up an ordinance because it’s an ordinance that we need that says either, yes, we can have one, or no, we can’t have one,” Kelly said. “They then bring it to the selectmen. Then the selectmen look at it. Then the lawyer looks at it. Then it comes back. So, in 180 days, you’re going to gather information. That’s what this is all about.”

Dennett said the purpose of the moratorium is “to delay the allowance of any data centers to exist until such time as a proposal is made, is presented to the planning board, the Select Board, the public as a whole, so that we have information to make a logical decision on whether it’s appropriate or inappropriate for the town.”

McKay said he thinks that the moratorium is going to effectively ban data centers in town. “They’ll move to Rumford.”

Town Manager Alicia Conn said the next step is to charge the planning board with doing research about data centers.

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