Data center town hall speakers criticize industry, Shapiro, and secrecy

Pennsylvania's burgeoning data center industry faced widespread criticism during a virtual Town Hall, revealing deep-seated opposition across the state. Organized by citizens' coalitions Better Path Coalition and No False Climate Solutions PA, the event showcased a range of concerns, from a perceived lack of transparency to fears of environmental and community impact. Governor Josh Shapiro was a frequent target of criticism, with residents like Kelly Donia and Roseann Weinrich expressing dismay over his administration's perceived support for "big tech" over community interests. State legislators also participated, with Democratic Senator Katie Muth of Chester County advocating for a three-year moratorium on new "hyperscale" data center developments. Republican State Representative Jamie Walsh of Luzerne County proposed several bills, including one to revoke the sales tax exemption for data centers. Residents from counties such as Chester, Cumberland, Columbia, Montour, Lawrence, Beaver, Montgomery, Luzerne, and Schuylkill shared personal accounts of industry actions and fears for their communities, with some describing the development rush as an "onslaught." One specific piece of legislation, a bill sponsored by Democratic Representative Kyle Donahue of Lackawanna County, which aims to create a state-level model ordinance for data centers, drew sharp criticism from Montour County resident Colby Wesner, who called it "a data center developer's dream." John Zola from Sugarloaf, Luzerne County, detailed numerous projects in his area, predicting a "calamitous effect" on Salem Township. The town hall underscored a significant and growing statewide backlash against the rapid expansion of data centers in Pennsylvania.