Voter Backlash Against Data Centers Consumes Midterm Elections
Residents in Springdale, Pennsylvania, are opposing Dynamo DC's proposed 47-acre hyperscale data center, citing concerns about noise, electricity demand, water use and neighborhood impacts. Springdale Borough Council approved a conditional use permit, while Allegheny County separately banned data centers larger than 25 megawatts on county-owned land and state officials considered additional restrictions.
Residents of Springdale, in northeastern Allegheny County, are organizing against Dynamo DC's proposed 47-acre hyperscale data center on the former site of a coal-fired power plant. The project received a 5-2 conditional use approval from Springdale Borough Council in December, but residents with Save Allegheny Valley Environment are asking Allegheny County to halt further land-use actions. They cite potential noise from cooling systems and generators, electricity costs and shortages, and the project's scale.
Dynamo DC spokesperson Brian Regli said the facility would use acoustical shielding, recycle 500,000 gallons of water in a closed-loop cooling system and draw up to 240 megawatts from the regional grid, with operations targeted for 2029. The dispute reflects broader political backlash against data centers, as officials debate moratoriums, energy costs and regulatory safeguards. Allegheny County Council voted unanimously to bar data centers larger than 25 megawatts on county-owned land, while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has promoted data center investment but later ordered energy-use and transparency requirements amid opposition.