Lowhill Township establishes zoning requirements for data centers

Lowhill Township's Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a 23-page ordinance, officially titled "Digital Infrastructure Facility," on Monday night at the municipal building. This legislation permits data centers as a conditional use within the township's Regional Use Overlay 2 district, providing comprehensive regulations to control their development. Township Manager Michael Siegel stated the goal is to ensure that if a data center is built, its presence would be largely unnoticeable. The ordinance, which is immediately effective, addresses crucial aspects such as setback, noise, and building height. Importantly, it mandates that applicants submit both an electrical utility impact study and a water feasibility study to demonstrate sufficient capacity and supply. Furthermore, data centers will be required to utilize closed-loop cooling systems. Lowhill Township's action mirrors similar efforts by other Lehigh Valley municipalities, including South Whitehall, North Whitehall, Upper Macungie, and Lower Macungie, as 17 local governments in the region are actively developing or have implemented data center ordinances. Siegel expressed confidence that residents would be "extremely happy" with the new protections.