Providence County
1 data center project we know about. 16 towns and cities.
Local votes and rules
🚫 Ban · Cumberland
The Town Council voted 6-1 to pass Ordinance 26-22, which makes data centers a banned use under Cumberland's zoning rules. Supporters cited water use, power prices and harm to neighborhoods. No data center was proposed.
🚫 Ban · Lincoln
The Town Council voted unanimously to change the zoning rules so data centers are not allowed in any part of Lincoln. Leaders said the town has little land, water and power to spare, and wanted to act before any developer applied. No data center was proposed.
⚖️ Court case · Smithfield
The developers of the Hanton City business park (Hanton City Investments LLC and ROK LLC) sued the town and its council. They say their plans were complete before the data center ban took effect, so the old rules should apply. More filings came on Sept. 15, 2026. The case is not decided.
📌 Other · Smithfield
On June 11, 2026, the town planning director said the Hanton City plans were still incomplete. The developers appealed to the Zoning Board. The hearing was put off several times. On Oct. 7, 2026, it was moved again, to January 2027, because of the lawsuits. If the developers win, the plans go to the Planning Board for public hearings.
🚫 Ban · Smithfield
The Town Council voted 4-1 to change the zoning rules so data centers are not allowed in any part of town. The change took effect 30 days later, in early June 2026. A developer filed plans for a business park with a data center one day before the vote, and is fighting the town over which rules apply.
Find your town
In Rhode Island, your town or city usually decides where data centers can go.