The original article was published from 7/29/2026 12:00:00 AM to 8/29/2026 11:59:00 PM
August 7, 2026 Update: Statement from First Selectman Vicki Tesoro on Trumbull’s Data Center
Earlier this week, I met directly with representatives regarding the Data Center located at 80 Merritt Blvd. This included leadership from Aphorio Carter, the site's ownership group, and 365 Data Centers, the prospective long-term tenant for this site, to review this project in detail and press them on the questions I know matter most to our town.
This is an existing data center, currently in operation, and has been for more than 50 years. What's being proposed is the modernization of a building already zoned, powered, and part of our tax base, brought up to date so it can keep functioning in the 21st Century.
To reiterate, this is a renovation of a decades-old, existing data center — not the new construction of a hyperscale AI facility. The site presently hosts computing infrastructure for multiple customers, primarily financial institutions and telecommunications carriers, a direct result of its proximity to New York City. Approximately 36% of current customers are Connecticut-based businesses, and the facility supports the continuous, reliable internet, banking, and communications services residents rely on every day.
The ownership group, Aphorio Carter, typically acquires existing data center infrastructure and modernizes it; a separate qualified operator will run the facility day to day. The prospective tenant, 365 Data Centers, has proposed a 15-year commitment to the site, and will fill the Data Center as stated above with customers largely drawn from the financial services industry.
Four main concerns rise to the top of my conversations with residents: electricity, noise, water, and expansion of the building's footprint. When it comes to these four things, I told the applicant directly: no increase in electrical draw beyond existing site capacity, no increase in noise, no increase in water use, no expansion of the building's footprint. They have agreed to all four.
Electricity: No additional utility capacity is being requested. Existing on-site transformer infrastructure will be reconfigured for more efficient use. There will be no new substations and no new grid draw.
Noise: Backup generator testing will take place on a limited schedule: briefly once a month, and for two hours once a year. There will be no incremental increase in sound from what is there today, and I've directed staff to verify independently as design finalizes.
Water: The facility will move from its current open-loop evaporative cooling to a closed-loop system as part of this modernization, meaning water consumption will not increase as modernization takes place.
Footprint: No expansion of the building. This is a renovation within the existing structure. In fact, the total building area on site will be reduced. There are three buildings on this site, and demolition has already begun on one of them, with no plans now or in the future to rebuild that space. Once complete, this will represent a 23% reduction in total building area on the property.
The new owner has agreed not to appeal the property tax assessment. The applicant is committing over $100 million to this site, which will be assessed at approximately 70% of that investment once modernized. Unlike past appeals with the former owner, Digital, this will mean real, reliable revenue for our community. This is expected to generate significant annual property tax revenue for the town, and that revenue will continue to grow over time. No local tax abatement or local incentive package is being requested by Aphorio Carter.
Demolition on one building has begun and renovations will take place over roughly six months. I will continue to update the community at each stage, and my office remains open to any resident who wants to raise a question directly.
July 29, 2026: Statement from First Selectman Vicki Tesoro on Trumbull’s Data Center – Update to July 10, 2026 Statement
I have met with the consultant representing the owner of the Trumbull data center. I will continue those discussions to ensure the community receives complete and accurate information about this project at the former Digital Realty Data Center site, 80 Merritt Boulevard, built in the 1960s. I will be meeting with the owners and other parties directly involved in the project in the near future.
As more information becomes available, I will share it with the public through the town website and other communication channels.
Archived - Statement from First Selectman Vicki Tesoro on Trumbull’s Data Center (Posted on July 10, 2026)
I want to thank the residents who have reached out with questions and concerns regarding the data center property at 80 Merritt Boulevard. This property has operated as a data center in Trumbull since the 1960s, and I understand the significant public interest surrounding any potential changes to its operations or future use.
I want the community to know that this matter is being taken seriously. I am actively meeting with the property owners, gathering information, and closely monitoring developments. My administration is committed to ensuring that residents are kept informed, that community concerns are heard, and that any potential impacts on Trumbull are carefully evaluated.
To provide the public with clear and accurate information, we are preparing a comprehensive document that will address many of the questions that have been raised. It will include information about the property's current operations, any proposed upgrades, the applicable review process, and what those changes could mean for our community. In addition, I intend to invite the data center’s new ownership team to present information about the project directly to residents.
Protecting the interests of the Trumbull community will remain my highest priority throughout this process. Residents deserve accurate information. For that reason, it would be premature to hold a public meeting before we have gathered the necessary information and can provide clear, accurate answers with input from the appropriate experts. Our goal is to ensure that when we convene the community, the discussion is productive, informative, and based on verified facts. As soon as that work is complete, we will announce a date for the public meeting.
I will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. I appreciate your patience and your continued interest as we work through this process together.
https://www.trumbull-ct.gov/m/newsflash/Archive/Item/3124?arcId=4849