Olyphant residents who oppose data centers raising money to hire attorney
Olyphant residents are actively fundraising to hire an attorney to mount legal challenges against proposed data center developments in their borough. This effort follows a settlement between the Olyphant council and a developer that recognized the borough's existing data center zoning. Residents are drawing inspiration and advice from a successful opposition movement in nearby Archbald.
Eva Rappenglueck is spearheading the Stop Olyphant Data Centers movement's fundraising efforts, launching a GoFundMe campaign with a $10,000 goal to secure legal counsel for residents opposing data center developments in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. The campaign has currently raised $2,700, with a projected retainer cost of $3,000 to $5,000.
Olyphant currently permits data centers on approximately 1,000 acres of industrially zoned land, with nine data centers already proposed. A firm managed by Charles DeNaples previously filed and then withdrew plans for an additional seven data centers. Recently, the Olyphant council approved a settlement with Charles DeNaples' Triboro Commerce Park, which upheld the borough's data center zoning. Residents believe this decision was made behind closed doors.
The Olyphant group is modeling its efforts after the successful Stop Archbald Data Centers movement in a neighboring borough. The Archbald group, founded by Justin Healey and Tamara Misewicz-Healey, has raised nearly $47,600 for its legal defense and hired attorney Justin Richards, who has actively challenged data center projects in Archbald, including appealing zoning decisions and questioning sound studies. Healey emphasizes the importance of community involvement and Facebook groups for organizing and sharing information, advising other communities on how to build similar opposition movements. Rappenglueck plans to organize Stop Olyphant Data Centers into a nonprofit as they continue their fight.