South Whitehall residents to question data center developer at public meeting on Thursday
South Whitehall Township residents are gathering for a public meeting to question developers of a proposed 1.5-million-square-foot Atlas Data Center. The South Whitehall Civic Alliance, a newly formed nonprofit, aims to halt the project, citing concerns over noise, potential pollution from diesel generators, and water usage. No vote is scheduled for this meeting, but residents plan legal action if the project is approved later.
Residents of South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, are preparing for a public meeting on Thursday to address the proposed 1.5-million-square-foot Atlas Data Center. The meeting marks the first opportunity for the public to hear directly from the developers, Atlas, who declined to comment to the press.
The South Whitehall Civic Alliance, a nonprofit formed recently by Laurie McShane and Greg Sussman, is spearheading opposition to the five-building complex planned for 400 acres near Parkland High School. The group has expressed concerns about potential noise, pollution from diesel generators, and excessive water usage. Sussman emphasized that while they are not opposed to data centers generally, they object to this specific location.
According to Sussman, the project is currently in the planning stage, not yet at the zoning phase where other data center proposals have often been defeated. The Alliance has engaged a legal team and technical experts, and Sussman stated they would take legal action if the township ultimately approves the project. Township officials have clarified that no vote will occur on Thursday, with the earliest possible decision scheduled for August 19.