Daily Digest — May 4, 2026
Lowell Residents Sue MassDEP Over Data Center Expansion Permits
A coalition of Lowell, Massachusetts residents has filed a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court challenging the expansion of Markley Group's data center in the Sacred Heart neighborhood, according to the Lowell Sun. The suit, brought with representation from the Conservation Law Foundation, Yale Law School's Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic, and Fitch Law Partners, targets MassDEP's approval of permits for 27 industrial diesel backup generators and 16 cooling towers.
The 94-page filing alleges that MassDEP's air quality plan approval was flawed, that the agency exceeded its authority by entering an undisclosed side agreement with Markley, and that it violated the state's Administrative Procedure Act. The data center, located in an environmental justice community, has been a source of contention for a decade, with residents citing pollution, noise, dust, odors, and high local asthma rates.
Markley Group purchased the former Prince Pasta plant in 2015 and converted it into a data center. Despite a 360-day moratorium on data center expansion recently enacted by the Lowell City Council, Markley has continued to pursue subdivision approval for an adjacent parcel, potentially for generative AI workloads.
Prince William Digital Gateway Appeal Heads to Virginia Supreme Court
Developer QTS has filed a last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia in the ongoing legal battle over the Prince William Digital Gateway, a proposed 2,000-acre, 37-data-center campus in Prince William County, as reported by WJLA and ABC 7 News. The project's rezoning, approved by the Board of Supervisors in December 2023, was struck down by a circuit court judge in August for insufficient public notice — a ruling upheld by the Court of Appeals of Virginia in late March.
Prince William County's Board of Supervisors and co-developer Compass Datacenters chose not to appeal, but QTS, whose parent company is Blackstone, filed just before the deadline. QTS argues that sufficient public notice was provided, citing a 27-hour meeting with public comment, and points to the project's economic benefits.
The Coalition to Protect Prince William County, led by executive director Elena Schlossberg, has opposed the project for over two years, arguing the rule of law must take precedence over economic arguments. QTS also faces a separate lawsuit in the U.S. Eastern District of Virginia regarding land purchases for the project. The Supreme Court of Virginia will now decide whether to hear the appeal.
Box Elder County Commissioners Face Decision on Massive Utah Data Center Project
Box Elder County commissioners are scheduled to vote today on the "Stratos" data center project proposed by O'Leary Digital, chaired by Kevin O'Leary, according to multiple reports from KSL, KUTV, Kiowa County Press, and ABC4 Utah. Key details of the project include:
- 40,000-acre campus for AI and cloud computing with on-site energy generation
- 7.5–9 gigawatts of natural gas power generation planned
- Projected annual water usage of 4.24 billion gallons, according to Stratos5thEast.com
- Approval routed through the Utah Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA)
Project CEO Paul Palandjian has framed the development as critical to national security and U.S. military AI capabilities, stating the facility will use state-of-the-art water minimization technology. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has strongly advocated for the project.
Opponents have packed county commission meetings, citing environmental concerns. University of Utah atmospheric sciences professor Kevin Perry estimates the natural gas plant could increase Utah's carbon dioxide emissions by over 50%, as reported by the Kiowa County Press. Residents near the proposed site have raised concerns about water depletion — particularly the impact on the Great Salt Lake — noise, wildlife, and traffic. The project's proximity to a bird refuge has also drawn criticism. The vote is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds, where opponents are planning a rally.
Box Elder County, Utah, commissioners to vote on controversial data center project
KSL.com
Rural residents push back as data center vote nears in Box Elder County
KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City
Massive data center could increase Utah’s carbon emissions by 50%
Kiowa County Press
Box Elder County Commissioners to decide fate of data center on Monday
ABC4 Utah
Building Trades Unions Emerge as Key Allies in Data Center Development Fights
Building trades unions are actively supporting data center development across the U.S., countering community opposition and hostile legislation by emphasizing job creation and economic benefits, according to a report from lockhaven.com. Data centers now account for a large percentage of work hours in regions like Columbus-Central Ohio and metropolitan Washington, D.C., driving significant growth in union membership and training programs.
Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, noted that unions directly address community concerns about energy, water, noise, and utility bills, encouraging communities to negotiate for improvements rather than reject projects outright. Tech companies including Google and OpenAI are investing millions in union training partnerships.
Unions have engaged in legislative battles across multiple states, opposing a vetoed statewide data center moratorium in Maine, proposed energy standards in Illinois, and efforts to end Virginia's data center sales tax exemption. They have also appeared at local council meetings in St. Louis, Joliet, Illinois, and Hobart, Indiana, to advocate for projects.
Pennsylvania Sees Growing Data Center Opposition and Legislative Activity
Data center opposition is intensifying across Pennsylvania on multiple fronts. Residents of South Annville Township in Lebanon County protested a proposed $1.7 billion data center by developer Inch & Co. along Route 422, citing air and noise pollution, water, and electricity concerns, according to CBS 21 News and local21news.com. The developer projects the facility would generate:
- Over $3 million annually for the county
- $13 million annually for the Annville-Cleona School District
- Approximately $700,000 annually for the township
Protesters argued these financial benefits do not outweigh potential health and quality-of-life impacts. Early designs show five warehouse-like buildings, each approximately 50 feet tall with additional rooftop equipment. Construction could be complete by 2029 if approved.
Separately, the Pennsylvania State House has passed a bill requiring data centers to cover electric grid upgrade and transmission costs, contribute to utility assistance programs for older Pennsylvanians, and use renewable resources, per CBS 21 News. The bill now awaits a Senate vote.
Meanwhile, Dan Diorio, Vice President of State Policy for the Data Center Coalition, acknowledged in an interview with ABC27 that the industry needs to improve its outreach, noting that approximately 60% of Pennsylvanians reportedly oppose data center construction. A separate data center project in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, is expected to span 700 acres and include 18 buildings.
