Lower Mount Bethel Township Officials Signed NDAs with Data Center Developer
Officials in Lower Mount Bethel Township are facing scrutiny for signing non-disclosure agreements with Talen Energy, a company involved in a proposed data center development. Residents are demanding transparency regarding the data center plans and the extent of private discussions between officials and developers. The controversy highlights a growing trend of NDAs in data center development and raises questions about public officials' obligations under transparency laws.
Lower Mount Bethel Township officials are under fire for signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with Talen Energy, a key player in a proposed data center development in the rural Northampton County community. Right-to-Know requests revealed that all supervisors in office in August 2025, along with the township manager, signed these agreements, sparking a fierce debate over transparency.
Residents, led by figures like Arlene Tishuk, have packed public meetings, accusing officials of withholding information. Supervisor John Mauser, who signed an NDA, publicly acknowledged its existence and explained that Talen Energy sought to protect information about land acquisition to prevent price inflation for its future development plans, which included a data center. Both Talen Energy and the broader development team (Peron Development and J.G. Petrucci Company Inc.) have since downplayed or clarified the NDAs' enforceability and relevance to the current data center proposal, with Talen stating the agreement was "never fully executed" and not intended to restrict public disclosure.
The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) advises its members against signing such agreements due to obligations under the state's Right-to-Know Law. The controversy also ties into ongoing zoning discussions, where the township delivered a "hard no" to rezoning agricultural land for the initial proposals, though developers continue to seek rezoning for other parcels and are reviewing the township's comprehensive plan and zoning to prepare future submissions. The township is also in the process of finalizing a new data center ordinance.