Gregg Township Data Center Proposal Faces Public Scrutiny
A proposed 252,000-square-foot data center by PNK Group in Gregg Township, Pennsylvania, is facing significant public scrutiny. A recent public hearing drew over 180 residents who raised concerns about noise, water usage, and the project's compatibility with the area's zoning. The Gregg Township Board of Supervisors is reviewing the application for a curative amendment and conditional use approval, with the hearing set to continue.
More than 180 residents attended a contentious public hearing before the Gregg Township Board of Supervisors regarding a proposed 252,000-square-foot data center by PNK Group. The hearing, held in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, generated over four hours of testimony and heated discussions as residents voiced strong opposition to the project. PNK Group, based in New York City, seeks a curative amendment and conditional use approval to allow data centers in the commercial manufacturing zoning district at 198 Enterprise Blvd., within the Great Stream Commons industrial park.
Anton Voronkin, PNK Chief Development Officer, and Justin Moceri, PNK Civil Engineer, testified that the site is an appropriate industrial area and that the proposed closed-loop design addresses primary concerns about noise and water usage. They highlighted features like repositioned electrical equipment, "quietest" models, sound barrier walls, and acoustic enclosures to keep noise levels below ordinance limits. However, residents, including Sam Burleigh from the anti-data center group Concerned Citizens of Montour County, questioned the company's claims and the project's compatibility with the existing ordinances, with some accusing representatives of lying.
Attorney Rick Shoch, hired by the township to advise on legal aspects, stated that the public hearing would continue at a later date, with future discussions focusing on acoustics and noise levels from expert witnesses. The Gregg Township Board of Supervisors is currently reviewing PNK Group's application.