Public Outcry Against Data Centers Leads to Delayed Vote in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania
Residents in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania, voiced strong opposition to the proposed PAX 1 data center campus, leading to a delay in critical votes. This local outcry, part of a national trend against data centers, prompted Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to issue an executive order expanding local authority over such developments. The community raised concerns about noise, water, air quality, and utility costs associated with the project.
Residents of Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania, gathered in large numbers at a monthly township supervisor meeting to protest the PAX 1, a 16-building data center campus already partially under construction. The public comment period lasted over an hour, with community members, including a 12-year-old, expressing concerns about noise levels, water pollution, and air quality during construction, as well as the board's role in protecting residents over developers.
The widespread opposition led to an immediate impact, as votes on the PAX 1 campus, which were on the agenda, were delayed to September 2 after the township solicitor experienced a medical emergency. This local movement reflects a growing national sentiment against data center developments, which has even entered political campaigns ahead of midterms.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a new executive order last week that expands local authority over data center issues, a move that environmental advocacy group Better Path Coalition called the strongest yet from Shapiro, though it still falls short of a full moratorium. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott also called for an audit of current projects. Polling by Heatmap indicates that 75% of Americans now oppose building a data center near them, a significant increase from 42% last year, with bipartisan opposition.
According to Berwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, the success of data center objectors, unlike other broadly supported political issues, lies in their active engagement with elected officials. Concerns driving this opposition include local control, rising utility costs, and a general backlash against AI.