As Springdale council prepares to vote, residents worry how data center could impact life in town

The Springdale borough council is set to vote on a conditional use permit for a proposed 565,000-square-foot data center on the site of a former coal-fired power plant. Residents are concerned about the data center's potential impact on noise, water use, air pollution, and electricity rates. While the company says the data center will comply with local regulations, some residents feel the process has not been transparent and that their concerns are not being fully addressed. The borough has limited input on environmental and utility impacts, but there is debate over whether the council should deliberate publicly or privately on the permit decision. The issue may need to start over if the council does not vote before the end of the current term.