Possibility of data centers in central PA sparks public pushback

A proposed data center project by New York-based PNK Group in Gregg Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, is encountering significant public resistance. Residents, including Susan Smith-Milley, James Krouse, and Kimberly Palm, voiced strong opposition at a recent community meeting, citing concerns about noise, potential environmental impacts, property value depreciation, and strain on the electric grid. The planned facility, an initial retrofit of a 478,000 square foot building in the Great Stream Commons Industrial Park, would eventually expand and likely serve artificial intelligence clients.

Jared Welch is actively collecting signatures against the project, reflecting widespread community sentiment that the development is unwanted and unnecessary. While PNK Group, through engineer Aaron Bodenschatz, claims to be addressing community concerns by modifying plans—such as relocating substations and chillers and using a closed-loop cooling system—residents remain unconvinced. The company is seeking conditional use approval from Gregg Township, as the current zoning for commercial-manufacturing does not specifically cover data centers.

The situation in Union County is mirrored across Pennsylvania, where municipalities often lack specific zoning for data centers. Mike Helbing, executive director of the Penn State Center for Energy Law and Policy, explained that while municipalities cannot outright ban lawful land uses, they can control development through specific zoning requirements. Tioga County Commissioner Shane Nickerson highlighted his county's proactive approach, having enacted a data center ordinance covering setbacks, noise, and decommissioning after realizing over half their county lacked zoning. Nickerson advised other communities to implement similar ordinances swiftly.

Governor Josh Shapiro's administration has introduced a "toolkit" to assist municipalities, and developers can voluntarily follow the state's "GRID" standards for water use and pollution. A public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment and conditional use approval for the Gregg Township project is scheduled for July 20, underscoring the ongoing local debate over data center development.