'I don't want you' say residents fuming data center farm takeovers

Residents in Pennsylvania's Slate Belt region are mobilizing against a proposed 1.2 GW data center project in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County. The project, led by Peron Development's John Callahan and J.G. Petrucci's Peter Polt, would involve building the Lower Mount Bethel Tech Center on a 450-acre parcel, requiring rezoning part of the site from agricultural to industrial. Community opposition is spearheaded by the group No Data Center in the LMBT, which held a three-hour town hall where residents expressed strong concerns about the industrialization of their rural landscape. Key issues raised include the preservation of farmland, substantial water and power demand, noise, light pollution, wildlife impacts, and a potential decrease in property values. While developers highlighted benefits like tax revenue, job creation, and community investment, residents, including Rodney Smith, Beverly Van Hendron, and Linda Horne, voiced their preference for maintaining the area's character, with some offering to pay higher taxes to prevent the development. Talen Energy's Dale Lipsak and PPL Electric Utilities' Joseph Lookup addressed power supply, while data center siting specialist Jake Terkanian detailed land use. The project is in an exploratory phase, but two of five Lower Mount Bethel Township supervisors have already committed to voting against it. John Callahan reassured residents that no NDAs would be requested, as seen in other areas, and emphasized that the proposal is at the beginning of a public process, with developers committed to addressing concerns and ensuring responsible site design.