Luzerne County planners recommend data center zoning amendments
The Luzerne County Planning Commission unanimously recommended zoning ordinance amendments that would establish detailed requirements for data centers and other energy-related facilities. The proposed rules include setbacks, noise and vibration limits, water and wastewater studies, closed-loop cooling, energy standards, and public input requirements, and now go to the Luzerne County Council for approval.
Luzerne County Planning Commissioners unanimously recommended that the county council approve zoning amendments governing data centers and other energy-related facilities. The standards, developed over six months with public input, would classify facilities by size and energy consumption and impose setbacks of up to 1,000 feet from property lines and 1,250 feet from sensitive receptors.
The proposed rules also address noise, vibration, building height, landscape buffers, water and wastewater impacts, thermal discharge, power supply, emergency response, electronic waste and decommissioning. Data centers would be required to use closed-loop cooling systems, provide financial security for decommissioning, and offer opportunities for public input and community benefit agreements. The amendments require final consideration by the Luzerne County Council.