Protect Our Valley Kickball Rally, Data Center opposition event held at Sherwood Park
Lackawanna County residents held a kickball tournament and rally at Sherwood Park to raise funds and awareness against proposed data centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Organized by the Lackawanna Citizens Overwatch Project, the event highlighted concerns about water quality, air pollution from diesel generators, and the impact of data centers on the local environment. Participants were urged to attend local council meetings where decisions on these projects are being made.
Residents of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, gathered on Saturday for a kickball tournament at Sherwood Park in Dunmore to raise money and support for the fight against proposed data centers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The event, dubbed the "Protect Our Valley Kickball Rally," was organized by Aline Browning, founder of the Lackawanna Citizens Overwatch Project.
The fundraising effort is part of a broader campaign by the Lackawanna Citizens Overwatch Project to protect communities in the Wyoming Valley. Browning expressed concerns about the environmental impact of data centers, specifically mentioning potential issues with water quality, PFOAS contamination in local mines, and air quality in the Lackawanna Air Basin due to diesel generators and small modular reactors.
Beyond the kickball field, participants had access to educational materials such as flyers, bumper stickers, and t-shirts to inform the community about the perceived harmful effects of the proposed data centers. Browning emphasized the importance of active participation in local council meetings and town halls, urging residents to move beyond online advocacy to influence the decisions regarding these developments.