Beaver County residents pack town hall meeting about data center proposal
Residents of Big Beaver Borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, packed a town hall meeting hosted by Switch to express opposition to a proposed data center project. Concerns were raised regarding transparency, infrastructure strain on the power grid, and water quality. The company faced criticism for not allowing the press inside and for a perceived lack of clear answers.
A packed town hall meeting in Big Beaver Borough, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, saw residents confront representatives from data center company Switch regarding a proposed massive data center campus. Police were present at the event, which was advertised as public but barred members of the press, leading to further criticism of transparency.
Residents voiced strong opposition, holding signs and asking questions about potential impacts on local infrastructure, the power grid, and water quality. Many attendees left feeling more confused and frustrated, accusing the company of downplaying their concerns and lacking clarity.
The proposed data center is planned for the site of the former Pittsburgh International Racetrack. The borough had previously amended an ordinance in September 2025 to allow data centers, with the racetrack's sale announced the following month, fueling beliefs among residents that the project is being fast-tracked without sufficient public oversight.