Archbald Data Center Developer Seeks Council Recusal Amid Zoning, Air Quality Debate
Cornell Realty Management, developer of the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus in Archbald, PA, has asked six of seven Archbald Borough Council members to recuse themselves from a conditional use hearing, citing bias. The request comes amidst ongoing debate over the project's compliance with zoning laws and significant concerns about air quality impacts from its proposed 588 diesel backup generators. An expert for the developer testified on air quality permits, attempting to counter claims of potential health damages.
Cornell Realty Management LLC, the developer behind the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus in Archbald, Pennsylvania, has formally requested that six of the seven Archbald Borough Council members recuse themselves from upcoming zoning decisions for the project. Attorney Edmund Campbell, representing Cornell, argued on Tuesday during the eighth conditional use hearing that these council members are biased and impartial, thereby violating the developer's right to due process. This request was made as the developer seeks conditional use approval for its campus on over 500 acres.
The contentious hearing also focused heavily on air quality, with Thomas Muscenti, an expert witness for Cornell Realty Management from Trinity Consultants, testifying for over three hours. Muscenti's testimony aimed to reassure the council that the project could obtain state air quality permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and that the permitting process would protect public health from pollution caused by the planned 588 diesel-powered backup generators. His report served as a rebuttal to a study by Dr. Michael Cork, hired by the "Stop Archbald Data Centers" group, which estimated potential annual health damages from the generators to be between $3 million and $124 million.
Council members and objectors expressed skepticism, highlighting discrepancies between the expert reports and pressing Muscenti on the effectiveness of tier 4 compliant generators and the application of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s CO-Benefits Risk Assessment (COBRA) program. Borough Solicitor Jay O’Connor disagreed with the developer's claim of due process violation, pointing to the numerous hearings already provided. The council's decision on the recusal motions and the conditional use application remains pending, with a ninth hearing scheduled for September 9th.