Letters: Lehigh Valley data center proposal a disaster waiting to happen

Lehigh Valley residents are voicing strong opposition to a proposed data center planned for the former Air Products site in Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania. The author, who attended two Upper Macungie zoning board hearings, expressed frustration that both meetings were postponed at the applicant's request, preventing public input despite crowded attendance by concerned community members. The primary concerns revolve around the potential environmental and economic impacts of the data center, including a projected increase in electricity and water bills across the Lehigh Valley. Residents also fear the significant freshwater consumption and potential pollution, which could particularly affect local farmers reliant on water for irrigation. The author urged the zoning board to listen to its constituents and called upon other Lehigh Valley residents to join the fight against the data center, emphasizing that community well-being and livelihoods are at stake.