Governor Shapiro addresses community concerns over Archbald data center zoning
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro met with Archbald residents to discuss their concerns about the cumulative impact and unsuitable zoning of proposed data centers in their community. Shapiro highlighted his administration's GRID standards, which require developers to meet stricter environmental and energy requirements, and indicated his office would explore ways to evaluate projects based on their total impact rather than individually.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro met with residents of Archbald and Blakely to address their concerns regarding the proliferation of data centers proposed for Lackawanna County.
Residents, who have been battling data center development for over a year at zoning hearings and borough council meetings, expressed worries about the cumulative effects of numerous data centers in a single borough. Mike Pilch, an Archbald resident, emphasized the unsuitability of the proposed locations, citing their proximity to homes, parks, and schools, rather than industrial zones.
Governor Shapiro acknowledged the residents' concerns and stated his administration would investigate how to legally assess the cumulative impact of these projects, rather than evaluating them on an individual basis, a practice currently followed by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Shapiro also referenced his "GRID" standards, which mandate stricter requirements for data center developers, including self-sufficiency in energy production and payment, job creation, and increased transparency. He warned that developers not adhering to these standards would face delays in permit processing. Drawing a distinction, Shapiro noted that Amazon's data center campuses near Berwick were built in areas zoned appropriately by local communities, unlike the projects proposed for Archbald, which seek to develop in residential areas.