Montco residents battle over data center proposal
Residents in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, are fiercely opposing a proposed 2-million-square-foot data center on the former Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill site. Community members voiced concerns over noise, air, water, and electricity pollution at a recent public meeting, which saw a packed and vocal opposition. The developer is pushing back, citing potential tax revenue and job creation, with a decision expected later this month.
A heated debate is ongoing in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, regarding a controversial data center proposal. Residents gathered at Colonial Middle School for a public meeting last night to express their strong opposition to the project.
The proposed 2-million-square-foot data center would be built on the former Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill site on Conshohocken Road in Montgomery County. This is one of two data centers proposed by the developer, with another, even larger one, planned for King of Prussia. Community members have been actively fighting the Plymouth Meeting proposal for months, raising concerns about noise, air pollution, excessive water usage, and high electricity consumption, citing broader global warming impacts.
During the meeting, residents booed loudly, demonstrating a packed house united against the proposal. One resident stated, "We're very concerned about these big data centers being in our area, polluting the air, using the water, electricity. Very concerned about global warming. And this can absolutely not help that matter." Another expressed hope that the community's strong stance might lead to the project's denial.
In response, the unnamed developer is countering these concerns by emphasizing the project's economic benefits, including millions of dollars in local tax revenue, thousands of potential jobs, and advantages for nearby schools. As of now, no decision has been made on the data center's future, but a resolution could be reached at the next meeting, scheduled for later this month.