A judge has temporarily blocked the installation of four additional diesel generators at a data center in Lowell, Massachusetts. The data center, owned by Markley Group, is located at the site of the old Prince Spaghetti factory and has been a source of concern for neighbors due to air quality and noise pollution from the existing generators.

Background

Markley Group has invested over $600 million in the project and has been pushing to expand the data center. However, neighbors have been pushing back, citing concerns about the impact on the community. The judge’s ruling found that Lowell residents may have been denied a meaningful opportunity to challenge the project during the state permitting process.

The ruling does not overturn Markley’s air permit originally approved by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and it does not stop the data center expansion completely. The company can continue operating the four generators already installed while the broader lawsuit moves forward.

In a statement, CEO Jeff Markley wrote: ‘The recent order is a preliminary decision based on a limited set of facts and arguments. The judge acknowledged at the hearing that there are many issues at play in the case. We believe once the full record is before the Court, it will be clear that the previous dismissal of the appeal at issue was proper and that the Court will find in favor of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Markley.’

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.