‘No one wants you here:’ Pa. state senator, opponent join opposition to South Whitehall data center near high school

Pennsylvania state Senator Jarrett Coleman and his opponent, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, publicly voiced their opposition to the proposed Project Atlas hyperscale data center in South Whitehall. Speaking before the South Whitehall Planning Commission, both candidates for the 16th Senate District urged a vote against the $8.9 million development, planned for 410 acres across from Parkland High School.

Senator Coleman, a Republican, highlighted concerns about the data center's potential strain on the power grid, increased costs for local ratepayers, and damage to infrastructure. He also raised public safety issues, specifically citing the fire risk posed by lithium-ion batteries and the volunteer fire department's lack of preparedness. Coleman has previously introduced legislation to allow municipalities to enact 18-month moratoriums on new data center applications.

Pinsley, a Democrat and South Whitehall resident, focused on financial implications, noting a 55% increase in electric bills for the Lehigh County government building in Allentown over four years, which PPL attributed to anticipating data center demand. He urged Edged U.S., the developer, to forgo state sales tax breaks. Addressing the developers directly as a father, Pinsley expressed parental wrath over the project's proximity to a high school and asked them to withdraw.

The South Whitehall Civic Alliance, a community group actively opposing the project, organized a pre-meeting news conference where Coleman and Pinsley reiterated their concerns. Alliance member Greg Sussman questioned the project's origins and the timing of the PIRT Overlay District creation relative to residents' awareness of infrastructure details. The Planning Commission did not make a decision at the meeting, with Edged officials indicating more information to present before the December 31 approval deadline.