Watts Township Data Center Ordinance Meeting

Residents of Watts Township in Perry County, Pennsylvania, gathered for a contentious Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday night to discuss a proposed data center ordinance. The large turnout, estimated in the hundreds, necessitated moving the meeting outdoors from the Watts Buffalo Community Center due to overcrowding. Many attendees expressed strong opposition to the ordinance, citing environmental concerns and fears that the proposed regulations were overly developer-friendly, especially when compared to a similar ordinance in nearby Carroll Township. Conversely, some residents spoke in favor of the data center plan, arguing that such development would provide crucial resources and revenue for township services. After the heated discussion, Watts Township officials confirmed that the proposed site still requires further consideration. The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a follow-up meeting in May to discuss the draft of the data center development ordinance.