Two data center hearings set for next week in Archbald

Archbald, Pennsylvania, is currently a focal point for data center development, with two major projects, Project Green Mountain and the Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus, undergoing contentious conditional use hearings before the Archbald Borough Council. These hearings, which have spanned over three months and drawn hundreds of concerned residents, are addressing proposals for a combined 21 data centers. Project Green Mountain, proposed by Green Mountain 6 LLC and linked to Western Hospitality Partners, seeks to build seven data centers at the Stavola Quarry site, projecting 525 megawatts of power use and 14,000 gallons of water daily for domestic purposes. The Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus, which would be the borough's largest, proposes 14 data centers on over 574 mountainside acres, requiring an estimated 1,600 megawatts of electricity and over 3.3 million gallons of water per day during peak summer months. Both projects plan for extensive backup diesel generator systems, prompting significant environmental and quality-of-life concerns from the community. Project Green Mountain has offered a $2.25 million community benefits agreement to Archbald Borough to mitigate impacts. Local opposition to the developments has been intense and highly organized, leading to packed auditoriums at hearings and even a public campaign to counter "propaganda" from Wildcat Ridge. Prominent local figures, including Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, County Controller Gary DiBileo, and retired Senior Judge Thomas J. Munley, have publicly testified against the projects, urging developers to leave due to environmental, water, and electricity system impacts, as well as concerns for residents' quality of life. The Borough Council has even permitted early public testimony to accommodate the large number of speakers.