Pennsylvania Sen. Katie Muth rallies Northeast residents opposing data centers
Nearly 200 residents and regional organizers gathered in Throop to oppose proposed data centers and related power plants across Northeast Pennsylvania. State Sen. Katie Muth promoted a three-year statewide data center moratorium, while Lackawanna County officials discussed a cumulative health impact study and concerns about electricity, water, air quality and infrastructure.
State Sen. Katie Muth told roughly 175 to 200 data center opponents at a community meeting in Throop that Northeast Pennsylvania’s resistance movement was strengthening her efforts to impose a three-year statewide moratorium. Muth said she plans to seek passage of the moratorium as an amendment to other legislation after Senate Bill 1359 stalled in the Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan described the scale of proposed development, including roughly 90 data centers and six natural-gas power plants. County commissioners hired EmPower Analytics Group to study cumulative public health and environmental impacts, while Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti discussed PPL Electric Utility’s planned transmission upgrades and an upcoming Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission hearing. Local organizers and residents said they remain concerned about impacts on neighborhoods, schools, air quality, water resources, electric bills and quality of life.