Centre County commissioners address data center growth concerns at State of the County
Centre County commissioners discussed community concerns regarding data center growth during their State of the County meeting. They addressed potential impacts such as power capacity limits, environmental concerns, and the role of local zoning in managing development. Townships like College and Patton are already exploring protective measures.
Centre County commissioners addressed community concerns over the potential rapid growth of data centers during their State of the County meeting. Commissioner Mark Higgins voiced skepticism about large-scale data centers being realistic or beneficial for the county, citing Centre County's maxed-out power grid and the prevalence of Class One trout streams.
Commissioner Amber Concepcion emphasized that local zoning is the primary mechanism for municipalities to manage data center development, allowing them to impose conditional uses and specific requirements. College and Patton townships, for example, are already exploring measures like mandatory buffer zones for noise and light, and standards for energy and water use.
Commissioner Steven Dershem noted the county's existing ordinance on significant regional impact, suggesting future discussions may lead to adjustments. Municipal governments in Centre County are encouraged to seek assistance from the county Planning and Community Development Department for guidance on data center-related zoning changes.