Commissioners: Data center draft plan in the works

Residents of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, voiced strong concerns about data center development and the expansion of the BRADS landfill during a recent County Commissioners meeting. Chris Melusky, a Norwegian Township resident, emphasized that while he is not against data centers, he opposes "poorly planned data centers being dropped into residential and environmentally sensitive areas where they negatively impact the quality of life." Melinda Deibert of North Manheim Township criticized developers for their disregard for local communities, likening the situation to small towns being treated as "dumping grounds for big tech infrastructure." Roseanne Weinrich of Butler Township, who previously submitted a petition for a statewide moratorium on data centers, urged commissioners to "take a step back" before widespread development, questioning who would address potential problems. In response to resident concerns, Commissioner Padora shared details about a "Schuylkill County Responsible Infrastructure Development" draft plan. This plan is modeled after the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards and aims to establish specific rules and regulations for data centers where the county has planning and zoning control. The key provisions of the policy will be made public once finalized.