Cumberland County brewery debuts anti-data center beer
Residents in Monroe Township, Cumberland County, are actively opposing a proposed data center development, prompting developers to postpone their presentation and revise plans. Local opponents are celebrating a partial victory with a new "Clean Breaches Lager" beer, citing concerns over water resources and noise levels.
Residents of Monroe Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, are actively opposing a proposed data center project near their homes. The developers were scheduled to present their plans to the township, but have postponed the presentation, indicating they will revise their proposals.
The local community organized quickly after learning about the project in late April, hiring a lawyer and displaying numerous yard signs. Opponents are celebrating this postponement as a partial victory, with Cold Springs Inn and Brewing company in Monroe Township debuting a new beer called "Clean Breaches Lager." The beer's name references environmental concerns, specifically the data center's potential draw on water resources and the impact of noise levels. Residents cited OSHA regulations regarding safe noise exposure, questioning how prolonged exposure near homes would be acceptable if not safe for an 8-hour workday.
The spokesperson for the opposition noted that developers likely recognized the strong community pushback and decided to regroup. The fight is ongoing, with residents hoping to make people realize the broad impact of such developments on resources like water. Attempts to contact the developers' attorney for details on the planned revisions were unsuccessful. Developers typically argue that data centers are necessary to meet demand for power from AI and other technologies.