Gaughan launches anti-data center ad campaign with TV spots, website

Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, a Democrat, has launched a $30,000 ad campaign targeting data center development in the county. The campaign, funded by his political committee "Friends of Bill Gaughan," includes TV spots and a website, ShowUpLackawanna.com, aimed at galvanizing residents to oppose what he describes as a drastic reshaping of the region. The campaign highlights significant concerns about proposed data center campuses throughout Lackawanna County, particularly their potential impacts on air quality, water resources like Lake Scranton, and electricity demands. Gaughan's website provides information on these issues and links to over a dozen local community groups involved in the opposition. The campaign comes as the county faces at least 13 proposed data center projects, encompassing about 90 individual buildings across multiple townships and cities, including Archbald, Clifton, Covington, Dickson City, Jessup, Newton, Olyphant, and Ransom. Archbald alone has six projects and 51 data centers proposed, along with several power plants. Commissioner Gaughan stated he initiated the campaign after residents repeatedly asked if it was