Proposed data center in Elizabeth Township leads to a contentious meeting
About 200 residents opposed a proposed data center at the former U.S. Steel site on Henderson Road in Elizabeth Township. Developer Tim Hendrix outlined a potential 20-building facility with its own power generation and closed-loop water system, while township commissioners said they were still evaluating the proposal.
An informational meeting about a proposed data center at a former U.S. Steel property in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, drew roughly 200 residents and became contentious as opposition grew. Residents cited the proposed facility's scale, proximity to homes, and potential noise, water and air-pollution impacts.
Developer Tim Hendrix is proposing up to 20 buildings on about one-third of the 550-acre brownfield site. The project could include its own power generation and a closed-loop water system, create as many as 300 full-time jobs and add an estimated $125 million annually to the township's tax base. Township commissioners said they were fact-finding and had not decided whether to proceed, with additional meetings expected. The proposal would also be subject to Pennsylvania data center regulations requiring disclosure of the end user and local approval before certain permits are issued.