Plains Twp. commissioners reject data center overlay district
Plains Township commissioners voted 4-0 to reject an ordinance that would have created a 592-acre data center overlay district near Bear Creek and Jenkins townships. Residents opposed the proposal and cheered the decision, which property owners’ attorney Justin Richards called a victory.
Plains Township commissioners rejected a proposed energy and technology zoning district covering about 592 acres along the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the borders of Bear Creek and Jenkins townships. The 4-0 vote abandoned the ordinance that would have allowed data centers on the site.
Hundreds of residents attended the meeting at Wilkes-Barre Area High School and applauded when Commissioner P.J. Biscontini announced the rejection. Commissioner Rob Sax was absent and said he would have abstained because of his employment with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Local attorney Justin Richards, representing several property owners, praised the board, while Moosic resident Derek Sutcliffe said opposition efforts had achieved a critical victory but that further work remained.