Honesdale in discussion on data center ordinance
The Honesdale Borough Council discussed the status of a draft data center and solar farm zoning ordinance. Council members raised concerns about the consultant, Tom Shepstone, due to his involvement in other data center issues and his stance on fracking, but the mayor defended his role. The ordinance is still in progress.
The Honesdale Borough Council held a meeting on Tuesday, May 26, to discuss the ongoing development of a zoning ordinance specifically addressing solar farms and data centers. Council member James Hamill inquired about the ordinance's status from borough solicitor Richard Henry, who acknowledged he was unsure but stressed the importance of finding out.
Hamill also expressed reservations about consultant Tom Shepstone drafting the ordinances, noting Shepstone's involvement in other data center discussions in Archibald and Dickson City. Henry agreed the council should explore this concern. However, Mayor Derek Williams defended Shepstone, asserting that any consultant hired works for the borough and can be guided as needed. Williams referred to WVIA's coverage, suggesting Shepstone had previously helped boroughs advocate against developers.
The article also briefly mentioned Shepstone's advocacy for fracking in the Delaware River basin and his participation in a roundtable where a connection was drawn between fracking and the development of AI data centers in Pennsylvania by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.