Washington County
No data center projects reported here yet. 9 towns.
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers · Hopkinton
At a special meeting in early September 2026, the Town Council passed an emergency rule that stops the town from taking or acting on data center applications for 60 days. It ends around early November unless the council renews it. The Planning Board is working on a permanent ban, which the council asked for in July. No data center has been proposed in Hopkinton.
🚫 Ban · Charlestown
The Town Council voted 5-0 to ban data centers and large battery storage sites everywhere in Charlestown. Leaders said the town has no public water or sewer, so a data center would strain wells and the land. No data center was proposed. The council asked town staff to make clear that home batteries are not covered.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers · Westerly
The Town Council voted 7-0 to pause building data centers in Westerly for one year. During the pause, the Planning and Zoning Commission will write rules on where, if anywhere, data centers could go. No data center has been proposed in Westerly.
Find your town
In Rhode Island, your town or city usually decides where data centers can go.