Dickinson Township supervisors consider new regulations for data centers and battery energy storage
Dickinson Township supervisors in Cumberland County, PA, are developing comprehensive regulations for data centers and battery energy storage to protect residents. While the ordinance was not approved at a recent meeting, it will be revised based on county and resident suggestions and re-advertised. Residents raised concerns about noise and hazardous materials.
Dickinson Township supervisors in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, are proactively developing comprehensive guidelines for data center and battery energy storage development. This initiative aims to establish regulations before developers propose specific projects, a move prompted by the recent approval of a portion of the Pax One data center in neighboring Middle Sex Township. The supervisors stressed the importance of having clear guidance to protect residents, indicating they cannot wait for potential state-level legislation to address these issues.
During a public comment session, community members largely praised the proposed ordinance for its comprehensive approach. However, some residents expressed concerns about potential continuous noise from data centers operating 24/7 and the possibility of hazardous materials. While the ordinance was not approved at the recent meeting, the supervisors confirmed they would not abandon it. Instead, they plan to review and incorporate suggestions from both county officials and residents before re-advertising the ordinance for further consideration.