Brookville Council imposes 180-day moratorium on intro of data centers
The Brookville Borough Council has enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center development to protect local water resources. This decision was made in response to concerns about potential high water usage by rumored data center projects. The council is also considering zoning amendments to further regulate future development.
The Brookville Borough Council in Pennsylvania has implemented a 180-day moratorium on new data center developments and their impact on local resources. The decision, approved during a property committee report on rezoning, was driven by concerns over the protection of the borough's water supply.
Council member Randy Bartley motioned for the moratorium, emphasizing water resource protection as paramount. Bartley noted that while no official applications have been submitted, there are rumors of two potential data centers, one in Pine Creek Township and another in Rose Township, which could collectively require an estimated 2.4 million gallons of water daily. Solicitor Jim Dennison highlighted the water authority's existing limitations on water extraction from North Fork Creek and their push for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to take protective action.
Committee chairwoman Sarah Gallagher stated the committee is working on creating an OC2 (office conversion) zone and amending the LI zone to restrict where such facilities can be located. The council will hold its next regular meeting on July 7 to continue discussions.