Pennsylvania township residents oppose $5 billion data center project
Residents in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, strongly opposed a proposed $5 billion, 1.2-gigawatt data center by Peron Development and J.G. Petrucci Co. during a town hall. Concerns included the loss of agricultural land, impact on community identity, and a lack of detailed project information, with residents vowing to fight the development.
Residents of Lower Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, expressed intense and widespread opposition to a proposed $5 billion data center during a three-hour informational session. The project, known as the Lower Mount Bethel Tech Center, is being developed by Peron Development and J.G. Petrucci Co. and plans for a 1.2-gigawatt facility on a 450-acre site.
Despite developers touting 500 full-time jobs, hundreds of construction positions, and up to $8 million in annual tax revenue, residents voiced significant concerns. They specifically cited the project's impact on the rural character of the community, the sacrifice of agricultural land, and a pervasive lack of crucial details, including the number and size of buildings, layout, and a confirmed end-user.
Marge Holmes, a resident, articulated the community's desire to preserve its agricultural identity, stating, "We have chosen to pay extra taxes to keep this land agricultural." Opposition was so strong that no public comments supported the proposal, with many attendees vocally challenging the developers. The community has signaled its intent to maintain pressure on decision-makers and developers, emphasizing that the dispute is fundamentally about local control and the preservation of their way of life against large-scale industrial proposals.