West Lebanon Township Considers Data Center Ordinance Amid Water Supply Concerns
West Lebanon Township residents raised concerns about the local water supply and its ability to support a potential data center development. During a recent meeting, officials also discussed a proposed data center ordinance that would require developers to ensure adequate water without increasing costs for residents. The ordinance proposal has been forwarded to Lebanon County for review and comment.
Residents of West Lebanon Township voiced significant concerns regarding the local water supply during a recent township meeting, specifically in the context of a potential data center development. While officials discussed the early conclusion of a $125 quarterly water fee for residents, the conversation shifted to the township's water capacity and the impact of new housing developments.
Nate Gibble, a three-year resident, questioned the allocation of 'extra money' from new homes given that a loan for water upgrades cannot be paid off early. Township secretary Antoinette Issis and treasurer Julie Clauser clarified that new homes were factored into the original loan, allowing residents to stop paying the fee a year earlier, in December 2026. Commissioner Michelle Testerman also inquired about the destination of any surplus funds after the PENNVEST loan is settled, with Clauser confirming excess funds would go into the township's water fund.
Concerns escalated regarding the township's water storage and the demands a data center might place on the supply. Lebanon County Commissioner and township resident Jo Ellen Litz raised a hypothetical scenario where a data center could necessitate purchasing water from the Lebanon Water Authorities, asking if the township could mandate this to preserve its own supply. Solicitor Paul Bamitzreider indicated the challenge of such a mandate but confirmed they were reviewing the proposed data center ordinance concerning water sources.
Bamitzreider reported that the data center ordinance proposal, which includes a mandate for developers to demonstrate adequate water supply without increasing resident costs, has been sent to Lebanon County for a 30-day comment period. The township plans to advertise a public hearing two weeks prior to its next meeting, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5.