Residents oppose landfill expansion, citing quality of life concerns

Residents of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, raised multiple local issues during a weekly meeting of the county commissioners in Pottsville. Melinda Deibert of North Manheim Township specifically addressed concerns about the increasing presence of data centers in Schuylkill County, citing a proposed project at the Highridge Business Park. Her primary worries included the potential strain on local water sources and the possibility of data centers receiving priority over residents for water access. Deibert also questioned the use of the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Act, which grants up to a 10-year property tax abatement, for these developments. Commissioners Chairman Larry Padora responded by stating his disapproval of applying LERTA benefits to data centers. He differentiated them from projects like the Cabela's store, which he believed provided broader economic benefits through job creation. Padora indicated that data centers are primarily attracted to an area by factors such as land, electricity, and water availability, rather than tax incentives.