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# DEATON: Massachusetts Needs A Data Center Policy That Protects Ratepayers, Not Beacon Hill Deals
- URL: https://www.newbostonpost.com/deaton-calls-for-ratepayer-protections-local-control-on-massachusetts-data-centers/
- Published: 2026-07-19T13:22:48.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-19T13:22:48.000Z
- Description: Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton calls for ratepayer protections, local control, and nuclear power while opposing blanket moratoriums and unaccountable tax breaks for data centers in Massachusetts.
- Author: John Deaton
- Tags: Commentary, Politics, Massachusetts, #lead, #morning-bell, morning-bell, #3

Across Massachusetts, from Lowell to Holyoke to Westfield, communities are raising serious concerns about the rapid push for data centers. 

Residents worry about higher electric rates, heavy water usage, and increased pollution from backup generators. These are not abstract issues. They directly affect family budgets and quality of life in neighborhoods already facing economic pressure.

And given the breaking news on the $2 billion deal a politician's spouse received, transparency should always be a priority when awarding large government contracts.

As a candidate for the United States Senate, I believe Massachusetts needs a responsible data center policy grounded in accountability and fairness. We must move beyond the closed-door tax break culture that has too often defined decision-making on Beacon Hill.

Consider the example in Lowell. The city approved a $77 million, 20-year tax break for a data center project that promised only 30 full-time jobs. That is not meaningful economic development. It is a one-sided deal negotiated without genuine input from the families who will live beside the diesel generators and pay the price through higher utility bills.

Meanwhile, working families in Springfield, Fall River, and communities throughout the Commonwealth struggle with some of the highest electricity rates in the country. Yet Senator Ed Markey returns to his home in Maryland, where energy costs are noticeably lower. This disconnect highlights why Massachusetts needs new leadership that puts our residents first.

My approach rejects both a blanket statewide moratorium and the status quo of unaccountable incentives. We can support responsible growth while protecting ratepayers and local communities. The principles are straightforward.

First, ratepayers must come first. Data center developers, not Massachusetts families, should bear the full cost of any grid upgrades their projects require. No family’s electric bill should increase to subsidize hyperscale server farms.

Second, we need binding community benefit agreements. Host towns and cities deserve enforceable commitments on local jobs, strict pollution controls, water usage limits, and fair payments instead of taxes before construction begins. Promises are not enough.

Third, local control must remain local. Cities and towns like Holyoke, Lowell, and Westfield should retain the authority to review, condition, or reject projects based on their specific needs. State and federal officials should not override local zoning decisions.

Fourth, we must solve the power supply challenge at its source. Artificial intelligence and data centers are driving tremendous new electricity demand. Massachusetts should lead by developing clean, reliable baseload power, including small modular nuclear reactors at brownfield sites such as Brayton Point in Fall River. Relying on polluting diesel backups in overburdened neighborhoods is not a sustainable solution.

Finally, distressed communities should have the first opportunity to benefit — but only on their own terms. Responsible investment can bring jobs and revenue to places like Lowell and Fall River, provided there are strong protections that past deals never delivered.

This debate is not about being for or against technology. It is about fairness and priorities. Massachusetts families deserve a real seat at the table when these decisions are made. They should not be left holding the bill while insiders and out-of-state interests benefit.

After more than five decades in Washington, Senator Markey has never been held accountable for energy policies that make life more expensive for working people here in Massachusetts. It is long past time for change.

We can attract innovative infrastructure and protect our communities at the same time. With the right standards, Massachusetts can lead on responsible data center development while keeping costs down and power reliable for the families who call our state home.

**John Deaton is a Marine veteran, cancer survivor, attorney, and Republican U.S. Senate candidate.**