Residents in Mt. Carmel Township speak out in opposition to data center development

Residents in Mount Carmel Township, Pennsylvania, are vocally opposing data center development in their community, urging township supervisors to limit such projects. Many residents have expressed strong opposition to data centers being built near homes, schools, and forested areas. The township supervisors cannot outright ban data center development but have introduced a new zoning ordinance. This proposed ordinance aims to restrict data center development to older, abandoned mining sites and includes regulations on data center size, buffer zones, noise levels, and water consumption. Concerns were raised by residents regarding the proposed $1,000 fine for violations, with some arguing that penalties should be significantly higher, such as $100,000 per incident. Ahead of a scheduled vote on the ordinance on Monday, May 18th, some residents are advocating for a 180-day moratorium on new data center proposals, referencing the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. However, other residents noted that data centers could provide a much-needed increase in the tax base, potentially improving revenue for public services like schools and police, which could benefit the area.