Voting rights group convenes panel on rapid growth of data centers in Lehigh Valley

The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County is set to host a panel discussion on data center development on Thursday, May 14, at the Lehigh Valley Active Life Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The event aims to educate local residents on various aspects of data center expansion, ranging from state legislation to environmental consequences, though the organization maintains a neutral stance on the topic. State Representative Mike Schlossberg, Majority Whip for parts of Lehigh County, will detail current state initiatives to implement regulations for data center construction and provide updates on relevant pending legislation. Attorney Blake Marles, a seasoned township solicitor, will explain the rights of property owners and the approval process for data centers. Richard Roseberry, a planner, will guide attendees through the planning review procedures undertaken by bodies like the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. Kathryn Urbanowicz, Deputy Director of the Clean Air Council of Philadelphia and an environmental attorney, will present findings from her co-authored report, "The High Cost of AI - How Data Centers are Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Energy Landscape." The panel will conclude with a question-and-answer session, designed to equip voters with the necessary information to engage with their municipalities regarding data center permits.