Middlesex Township approves all agenda items related to PAX-1 data center
Middlesex Township Supervisors have approved all seven agenda items related to the PAX-1 and PAX-2 data center projects, despite significant public opposition. The vote followed several hours of public comment from residents mostly against the development. While Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order regarding fast-track data center requirements, its impact on this specific project remains unknown.
Middlesex Township Supervisors voted to approve all seven agenda items for the PAX-1 and PAX-2 data centers in a 2-0 vote, following a lengthy public meeting held at Cumberland Valley High School. The meeting, which was the third iteration due to previous overflow capacity, saw nearly half of the 1600-seat auditorium filled with residents.
The decision came after more than three hours of passionate public comment, with the overwhelming majority of attendees expressing strong opposition to the data center projects. Residents pleaded with supervisors to delay the vote and voiced concerns about the project's impact, chanting "shame" after the vote.
While most residents opposed the projects, a Middlesex Township resident, Kathleen Diaz, spoke in support, stating that the battle was unnecessary as "it's part of growing." Former Township Supervisor William Goodhart had stepped down the previous week due to health concerns. The potential impact of Governor Josh Shapiro's recent executive order, which changed fast-track data center requirements, remains unknown for this specific project.