Residents prepare for expensive battle against proposed South Whitehall data center
Residents in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, have formed a nonprofit, the South Whitehall Civic Alliance, to oppose the proposed 1.5 million-square-foot Project Atlas data center near Parkland High School. The group has retained attorneys and is raising funds for an anticipated legal battle, with lawyers expected to file an objection at an upcoming planning commission meeting. Concerns include environmental impacts, heat, noise from generators, and the proximity to the high school.
Residents of South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, are mobilizing against the proposed Project Atlas data center, a 1.5 million-square-foot facility planned for a 410-acre site near Parkland High School. Opponents, including retired environmental health and safety professional Alice Lenthe, voice concerns about potential noise from generators, heat emissions, and overall environmental and health impacts on the community and students.
The South Whitehall Civic Alliance, a newly formed nonprofit, has retained legal counsel and is actively fundraising to mount what they expect to be an expensive legal challenge. Alliance members, like Spurgeon J. Dunbar, anticipate their attorneys will file an objection to the project's plan during an upcoming township planning commission meeting. The group has raised approximately $35,000 towards a $120,000 goal, emphasizing that their legal action represents the community's interests.
Edged US, the firm developing Project Atlas, maintains that the data center will operate quietly, have minimal environmental impact, and generate $11.5 million annually in taxes for the Parkland School District. Marcie Kaplan, Vice President and Head of Marketing for Edged US, stated the company's commitment to transparency and being a good neighbor. However, opponents like Dunbar note that while the land is zoned for tech development, a recent overwhelming vote for an open space referendum indicates residents prioritize preserving natural spaces.
Community members from outside South Whitehall, such as Evan Sandercock from North Whitehall, have also joined the alliance, expressing strong opposition to the project's location. The group is encouraging residents to attend the upcoming planning commission meeting, relocated to Springhouse Middle School to accommodate an anticipated large crowd, believing they can win what they describe as a "David vs. Goliath fight" to protect their homes.