South Whitehall Data Center Fight Grows as Residents Demand Public Hearing
Residents of South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, are demanding a public hearing for Project Atlas, a proposed hyperscale data center. The project, put forth by Edged US or Scannell Properties, faces strong opposition due to concerns about traffic, noise, and environmental impact, despite developer claims of jobs, tax revenue, and water-saving cooling systems. This dispute is part of a broader trend of community pushback against data center developments across Pennsylvania and the US.
A proposed hyperscale data center, known as Project Atlas, in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, is facing escalating opposition from local residents who are demanding a public hearing before local officials approve the development. The project, put forth by Edged US or Scannell Properties, is slated for a 400-acre parcel near Parkland High School in Lehigh County. Initial plans for six data centers spanning over 5 million square feet have been scaled back to three facilities, each about 500,000 square feet, but the revised proposal has not quelled community concerns.
The South Whitehall Civic Alliance is leading the charge, requesting direct engagement with Edged US representatives and an opportunity to present witness testimony. This follows a July 9th Planning Commission meeting where hundreds of residents voiced their opposition. Residents are worried about increased traffic, noise pollution, and strain on local infrastructure, while developers highlight economic benefits such as 250 permanent jobs and $16.2 million in annual tax revenue. Developers also claim the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system to conserve water and fund a new PPL substation for power.
The local dispute mirrors a nationwide trend of communities pushing back against large data center projects, with neighboring Whitehall Township also expressing concerns about potential traffic impacts and beginning to draft its own data center regulations. Other Pennsylvania townships, like Hampden, have rejected data center ordinances, while Lancaster is considering zoning changes requiring special-exception hearings for such projects. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has even released a toolkit to guide municipalities through data center planning. The outcome for Project Atlas in South Whitehall Township hinges on the residents' ability to secure the public hearing they seek.