Franklin County cuts solar rule from proposed data center regulations

Franklin County commissioners have voted to approve revisions to a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating data centers in municipalities without established zoning districts. The proposed amendment to the county’s subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO) seeks to mitigate potential negative impacts of data center development on communities, businesses, and agriculture. A key change approved by the commissioners, with a 2-1 vote on April 8, was the removal of a requirement for data centers to generate 25% of their energy via solar power. This rule had been popular with residents at an earlier public hearing but was cut due to concerns about farmland preservation, as a consultant determined it would require over 1,000 acres for a single data center's energy needs. Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski, the lone Democrat, voted against the revisions specifically because of the solar requirement's removal. Public opposition to data centers has been substantial, with nearly all comments received at a previous public hearing being against their development. Due to this strong interest, the commissioners have scheduled a second public hearing for April 28 at the Franklin County Administration Building in Chambersburg to gather further citizen feedback. Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst emphasized the county's serious concerns regarding data center impacts and encouraged local municipalities to adopt these guidelines.