Loud protests disrupt data center presentation
A public presentation by Stonebridge Associates about a proposed data center in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, was disrupted by loud protests. Company representative Douglas M. Firstenberg was booed away from the microphone and unable to answer questions publicly, leading to a raucous crowd who expressed their opposition.
A presentation by Stonebridge Associates concerning a proposed data center in North Beaver and Mahoning townships, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, was met with significant public opposition on Monday.
Douglas M. Firstenberg, a principal with Stonebridge Associates, and representative for affiliate S.S. Penn LLC, attempted to detail the plans but was repeatedly interrupted by a protesting crowd. Attendees shouted phrases like "We don't want you here" and booed Firstenberg from the microphone. The situation intensified when Firstenberg declined to answer questions publicly, instead directing more than 100 attendees to speak with company representatives at tables, which further agitated the crowd.
The event underscores strong local sentiment against the data center development.