A mother’s perspective on the proposed South Annville data center | opinion

Sarah Dixon, a resident of South Annville and a mother of three, has penned an open letter to the South Annville Township Board of Supervisors, expressing deep reservations about a proposed data center by Inch & Co. in their community. While acknowledging the potential tax revenue benefits for local schools, Dixon raises serious concerns about the absence of long-term health and environmental impact studies for large-scale data centers. The proposed facility's proximity to the Quittie (a drinking water tributary), Carmany apartments and playground, and an elementary school leaves no margin for error, according to Dixon. She references warnings from Dr. Dompier of LVC about potential noise, air, water, and land contaminants. Dixon criticizes Inch & Co. for not providing external data to support claims that their data center would be different or safe, and for not explaining the specialized training and equipment needed by firefighters for data center fires. Dixon further scrutinizes Inch & Co.'s history, citing multiple instances of community opposition to their projects in York County. She highlights a November 2023 settlement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office due to consumer protection law violations, specifically a non-disparagement clause in lease agreements that prohibited renters from posting negative reviews. Additionally, Dixon points to Inch & Co.'s contentious attempts to secure LERTA tax abatements for a sports complex project in Central York School District, which were twice denied, leading to a lawsuit from their partner, WellSpan Health. Given this history, Dixon questions Inch & Co.'s promise not to seek tax exemptions for the data center project in Annville Cleona School District. She implores the Board of Supervisors to adopt a "forward-thinking" approach by acting conservatively, demanding extensive research, valuing resident opinions, including strict regulations in ordinances, and hesitating to approve a large-scale data center so close to children’s areas and drinking water, prioritizing the well-being of the next generation over immediate tax revenue opportunities.