Group against PAX-1 Data Center hosts political candidate town hall
Candidates for state and local office addressed data center regulation at a town hall in Cumberland County hosted by Stop PAX-1, a group opposing the proposed PAX-1 hyperscale campus in Middlesex Township. Residents and candidates raised concerns about zoning, water use, energy demands and the need for stronger safeguards before construction begins.
Candidates running for state and local office gathered in Cumberland County for a town hall focused on the proposed PAX-1 data center campus in Middlesex Township. The 16-building, roughly 700-acre project has faced opposition from residents concerned about its effects on the community, including its zoning, water consumption and energy requirements. The event was hosted by Stop PAX-1, a community group fighting the development.
Democratic candidate Nathan Wood questioned whether a responsible or ethical hyperscale data center is possible, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacey Garrity said data centers should provide their own energy, add capacity to the electric grid and use closed-loop water systems. Other candidates said they oppose data centers in Cumberland County and emphasized planning, public input and regulatory expertise, including knowledge of Pennsylvania environmental permitting requirements.