.png%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=75)
Pennsylvania town offered $10K each to back massive data center
NorthPoint Development is offering $10,000 to eligible households in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, if its proposed 1,300-acre data center campus with up to 15 buildings moves forward. Despite the offer, many residents remain concerned about potential impacts such as construction noise and property value depreciation. The company also plans to provide $120 million for community needs, including the local police department.
NorthPoint Development has proposed a large-scale data center campus spanning 1,300 acres in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, near the Pocono foothills. The project aims to include up to 15 data center buildings and associated infrastructure, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The developer has offered a unique incentive to the community: $10,000 to every eligible household if the project secures the necessary approvals and reaches its first certificate of occupancy, which is anticipated in late 2027. This offer represents a total commitment of approximately $45 million for the township's roughly 4,500 households. Additionally, NorthPoint Development plans to contribute $120 million over 15 years for broader community needs, including funding for the local police department.
Despite the significant financial offer, many of Hazle Township's 10,460 residents remain unconvinced. Concerns range from potential impacts on property values and increased construction noise to a general distrust of the payment as a "bribe." Residents like retired teacher Jeff Fasnacht and homeowner Ed Negra expressed skepticism, with Negra suggesting the offer might prompt more scrutiny of the project's drawbacks. However, some residents, such as retired worker Charlie Leshko, see the $10,000 payment as a valuable opportunity. The debate in Hazle Township reflects a growing national pushback against data center developments, which are criticized for their substantial consumption of electricity, land, and other resources.