Somerset County unveils proposed data center guidelines; public hearing planned for Tuesday
Somerset County, Pennsylvania, has unveiled a proposed land-use ordinance to regulate data center development countywide. The draft guidelines include requirements for on-site power sources, closed-loop water systems, noise and lighting limits, setbacks, and a decommissioning plan. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday to gather feedback before the commissioners take further action.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania, has drafted a comprehensive land-use ordinance designed to regulate future data center development within its boundaries. The proposed guidelines, unveiled by the Somerset County commissioners, would mandate that any data center developer install an on-site power source capable of exceeding the facility's maximum energy usage to prevent negative impacts on the local power grid.
In addition to energy requirements, the ordinance seeks to mitigate environmental concerns by requiring data centers to operate with water conservation-focused "closed-loop" systems to recirculate water and protect groundwater. Other provisions include strict limits on noise, lighting, and height, as well as mandatory setbacks and landscaping buffer zones up to 300 feet from neighboring structures. Developers would also need to provide a full funding and decommissioning plan to ensure the removal of structures and restoration of the property if a facility ceases operation.
A public hearing is planned for Tuesday, November 6, 2024, at the Somerset County Office Building, allowing residents to provide input on the proposed regulations. Commissioners indicated they have no evidence of a data center currently planned for the county, but are acting proactively, especially as a Stoystown-area hunting ranch is reportedly being marketed as a potential data center location.