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Sutton Officials Say Kraft Data Center Proposal Still on the Table Despite Public Outcry
Sutton officials signaled Friday they are not abandoning a proposed $16 billion data center campus from two Kraft family companies, even after residents packed a Select Board meeting to denounce the plan. The town's unsigned statement cites potential financial benefits while acknowledging 'significant public interest in, and concerns about' the project.
SUTTON â Town officials said Friday they are still weighing a massive data center proposal from two Kraft family companies, even after the plan drew heated criticism from residents at a packed public meeting earlier this week.
In an unsigned statement posted on the town's website, Sutton acknowledged "significant public interest in, and concerns about, the potential development of a data center project." The statement suggested that potential financial gains are a factor in keeping officials engaged with the proposal.
"Responsible municipal leadership means evaluating opportunities that could strengthen Sutton's financial future while protecting the character, resources, and quality of life residents value," the statement read.
The proposal, first reported last week, calls for a $16 billion data center campus on land owned by the Krafts' Unified Packaging box business, about 10 miles south of Worcester. The project would include 10 buildings.
The prospect has stirred intense opposition in the small Central Massachusetts town of roughly 9,700 residents. At a Select Board meeting on Tuesday, residents sharply criticized the plan, citing concerns about energy use, water consumption, noise, and the town's rural character.
The Kraft Group, the business empire of Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his family, has been promoting the project as an economic development opportunity. But the company has faced a series of public relations challenges in recent months, and the Sutton proposal has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over the rapid expansion of data centers across Massachusetts.
Data centers are enormous consumers of electricity and water, and they have drawn increasing scrutiny from environmental advocates and local officials who worry about their strain on power grids and natural resources. The Sutton proposal would be one of the largest such projects in the state.
It remains unclear what specific financial benefits the town might receive, or what process officials will follow in evaluating the proposal. The town's statement did not provide a timeline or detail next steps.
The statement comes as residents continue to press for more transparency and a fuller public review. Some have questioned how the idea for the data center originated, and whether the town was adequately prepared for a project of this scale.
Sutton officials did not respond to requests for further comment Friday.