900-megawatt data center campus proposed for central Massachusetts, backed by Kraft Group

A data center campus has been proposed in Sutton, Massachusetts, with plans calling for 10 buildings that would use about 900 megawatts of power while bringing down taxes for residents, according to the town manager.

The $16 billion proposal is backed by United Global Packaging Group and The Kraft Group, which are both affiliated with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. 

Sutton Town Manager Austin Cyganiewicz laid out the proposal in a memo to the Select Board, which held a standing-room-only meeting Tuesday night. 

"The proposal is tentative," he writes. "No application has been filed, and important details on power, water, equipment and site impacts are still to come."

Sutton, located south of Worcester, has a population of just under 10,000. The data center campus is proposed for a property off Boston Road and Providence Road.

Under the current plan, the first two buildings would open in 2029, and two more would open every year through 2033. 

Once complete, Cyganiewicz says the project would bring in $27.8 million in tax revenue, which is nearly the town's entire 2027 tax levy of $32 million.

"Because the Town raises only what its budget requires, the main effect would be lower tax bills: about $2,300 less for the average single-family home in FY2031 and about $5,800 less in FY2035," the memo says. 

Data centers have been a controversial topic nationwide because of the energy and water resources they require to power AI. Developers told the town they are in talks with regional grid operator ISO New England about securing the necessary power, and they are exploring using treated wastewater for cooling. 

Rebekah Nydam woke up to the news of a potential new development right in her hometown of Sutton. She has concerns about how the data center will impact her tight-knit community. 

"It's very alarming. I think there's a lot of people that probably haven't heard about it as well," Nydam said. "Will our infrastructure be able to support such a huge development? Will they need to build additional transmission lines or substations in other areas in town or surrounding towns?"

A Select Board meeting at Sutton Town Hall was packed Tuesday night as tensions boiled over about the proposal.   

The town manager gave a detailed presentation of the proposed plan and what the process would look like if eventually approved. Many Sutton residents would prefer it be scrapped before it even starts.

Neighbors expressed their deep concerns over the toll it could take on the town, including impacts to public health and home value impacts. Even what the center might sound like.

After repeatedly yelling out during the meeting, one man was escorted to the exit by police. 

Water resources, noise pollution, and energy consumption are three major concerns State Representative Joseph McKenna has heard from community members. He's hoping the massive property tax base the project would cover could potentially lower his constituents' taxes. 

"I'm not willing to say no just because it's a scary project, it's new technology, there are concerns," Rep. McKenna said. "We must address those concerns and it must be done in a way that is beneficial for the town of Sutton, but at the end of the day this project could prove to be a real boon for the community and provide resources that we otherwise would have no access to." 

In September, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey issued an executive order requiring data center developers to enter into community benefit agreements with local cities and towns. She also said new data centers would need to provide their own energy or pay a fee so that the costs are returned to taxpayers. The state paused tax breaks for data centers back in June.

At the meeting Tuesday night, town leaders repeatedly stressed that nothing has been approved or pushed forward. But even this first discussion stirred up frustration and fear.

Town leaders will create a website with FAQs and there will be several public comment meetings in the coming months before a potential town meeting vote in the spring. 

WBZ-TV has reached out to the town of Sutton and the Kraft Group, but so far they have declined to comment.