Neighbors uneasy about South Annville data center proposal
News Clipaltoonamirror.com·South Annville, Lebanon County, PA·5/1/2026
Neighbors in South Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, are expressing strong opposition to a proposed data center, citing concerns over wildlife, property values, and resource use. Similar widespread opposition, including contentious public meetings and security concerns, has emerged in other Pennsylvania townships like Limerick and East Vincent. Amidst this local tumult, Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a statewide framework for "Responsible Infrastructure Development," though legislative agreement on comprehensive data center regulations remains elusive.
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Gov: South Annville Township, Lebanon County Commissioner, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Legislature, Limerick Township Planning Commission, Limerick Township supervisors, East Vincent Township supervisors, East Vincent Township Planning Commission
Rick Pyles and other residents of South Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, are deeply concerned about a proposed data center development near their homes. Their worries encompass the impact on local wildlife, particularly eagles, property values, and the consumption of electricity and water. The article highlights that most data center activity and related opposition in Pennsylvania are concentrated at the local level, with county governments having minimal involvement and no comprehensive state-level regulations in place.
Across Pennsylvania, data center proposals are facing significant backlash. In South Annville, there's an "avalanche of opposition," while in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, online threats have prompted increased security measures for public meetings regarding an eight-building data center proposal near the Philadelphia Premium Outlets. East Vincent Township in Chester County also saw a contentious hearing for a six-building data center campus at the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital site, where the Planning Commission had recommended rejection due to concerns about massive, undefined impacts on resources and the environment.
Amidst this local unrest, Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, has introduced a concept called "Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development" (GRID) for legislative consideration to establish statewide rules. However, bipartisan consensus on how to regulate data centers remains elusive, despite numerous proposed bills. Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, senior organizer for Food & Water Watch, notes a growing demand for a moratorium on data center development, emphasizing that communities are "rushing into something without fully understanding what the consequences are." Lebanon County Commissioners acknowledge the necessity of data centers but defer location decisions to municipalities, with Commissioner Mike Kuhn predicting rejection for the local South Annville proposal due to overwhelming opposition.