Everyone in a Pennsylvania town gets $10K if data center is built – but they’re still pushing back: report

Northpoint Development has offered to pay $10,000 to each of the 10,460 households in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, as part of its effort to secure approvals for a data center project in the Pocono foothills. The total payout, amounting to $45 million, is intended to win over residents, with NorthPoint's chief marketing officer Brent Miles explaining it as a direct response to residents' question of 'what's in it for me?' The company also plans an additional $120 million in payments over 15 years to support local services like the police department.

However, many Hazle Township residents are rejecting the offers, expressing skepticism and concerns about the potential negative impacts of the data center. Retired teacher Jeff Fasnacht fears the development will 'tank my property value,' while retired homeowner Ed Negra suggests the offer could backfire by prompting residents to investigate potential downsides. Others, like Carl Majusiak, initially considered the payment but ultimately decided against the development, fearing noise, light pollution, and potential job eradication due to AI acceleration. Charlie Leshko, a retired worker, expressed he was considering the payouts.

The situation in Hazle Township reflects a growing national trend of opposition to data center developments. Politicians like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have taken actions to pause or regulate data center approvals, while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has banned non-disclosure agreements between local governments and data center companies, deeming some developers 'predatory.'