Indiana County Planning Commission Tables Amazon Data Center Project
The Indiana County Planning Commission voted to table an application from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build data centers in Center and Black Lick Townships. The decision followed a meeting where nearly 100 members of the public voiced concerns about the project, citing environmental issues and transparency. The application has been tabled for 90 days for further investigation by the board.
The Indiana County Planning Commission held a public meeting on Wednesday night regarding an application from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to construct data centers in Center and Black Lick Townships. Nearly 100 members of the community attended the meeting at the Indiana County Courthouse, many of whom expressed strong opposition to the proposed project.
Public concerns ranged from potential environmental impacts, such as sound and water pollution, to issues of transparency and the overall priorities of a major corporation like Amazon. Following a presentation by AWS, where the company outlined its plans to mitigate such issues and highlighted the creation of 1500 to 2000 jobs, the Planning Commission made a decision.
Ultimately, the board voted to table the application, initiating a 90-day period for a thorough investigation into the matter. Board Chair Laurie Lafontaine emphasized the commission's intent to utilize all available resources to reach a final decision.