Parkland superintendent reviews data center proposal
Parkland School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson presented a review of the proposed Atlas Data Center to the district board, outlining significant concerns regarding its scale and potential impacts. The district is monitoring the project's progression through South Whitehall Township's planning and zoning meetings, emphasizing issues such as noise, environmental effects, and demands on electricity, water, and emergency services. While the district can raise concerns, the township holds the authority to approve the project.
Dr. Mark Madson, Superintendent of Parkland School District, provided the district board with an administrative overview of the proposed Atlas Data Center during a May 12 workshop session. The project, described as "very large, massive," involves six buildings totaling 5.1 million square feet spread over 400 acres in South Whitehall Township, with a portion situated across from Parkland High School. Madson detailed the school district's concerns in a letter sent to the Lehigh County Authority, PPL, South Whitehall Township, and the developer, Atlas.
Key issues highlighted include the continuous operational noise and vibration from the facility, potential hazards from the electrical infrastructure, and environmental impacts related to soil stability, wastewater management, and hazardous materials from 356 diesel generators and 1,056 rooftop chillers. The superintendent also raised questions about the data center's demands on electricity, water, and emergency services, noting the "end user accountability" is essential despite the tenant remaining unknown due to nondisclosure agreements.
While acknowledging the potential for revenue, Madson emphasized that the school district's role is to monitor the proposal, as the approval authority rests with South Whitehall Township. School board Vice President Chris Pirrotta expressed concerns about monitoring and enforcement, and board member Lisa Roth mentioned seeking to visit an existing data center to better understand the scale. The district expects the project's scale may be reduced as it moves forward and assures continued monitoring with various stakeholders.