Pennsylvania politicians debate data center noise issues while lawmakers on summer break
Pennsylvania politicians are debating data center noise issues amid a statewide data center boom. A proposed 1.5-million-square-foot data center, Project Atlas, in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, faces significant local opposition over noise, traffic, and water concerns. Lawsuits have been filed regarding data center noise, and state lawmakers are considering moratorium legislation.
Pennsylvania is experiencing a data center boom, leading to increased friction over noise levels, traffic, and water usage, particularly from a proposed 1.5-million-square-foot facility named "Project Atlas" in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County. Residents like Anna Clement, who home-schools her children, and Superintendent Mark Madson of Parkland High School, the state's fifth-largest, express significant concerns that noise from the data center will disrupt education and daily life.
The developer, Edged U.S., asserts that Project Atlas will have quiet operations, using a closed-loop cooling system that requires no daily water, and will generate less traffic than other industrial developments. However, many locals remain unconvinced, with over 600 people attending a recent meeting and the South Whitehall Civic Alliance actively fighting the project, arguing for its complete rejection due to "irreparable harm" for short-term tax benefits.
The issue has escalated to the state level, with Republican state Sen. Jarrett Coleman stating the project is "not the right fit" for the area. Democratic Sen. James Malone of Lancaster County has publicly urged the Republican-controlled state Senate to reconvene and vote on data center moratorium legislation. Even Governor Josh Shapiro's administration, previously a proponent of data center construction, is reportedly planning executive actions concerning data centers.
Upcoming for Project Atlas is a Sept. 23 meeting of the township Planning Commission, which will make a recommendation to the township commissioners before an Oct. 31 final decision. The township engineer has raised "issues" with the proposal. The broader issue of data center noise has already led to lawsuits filed by a Michigan law firm on behalf of residents in other states, highlighting the challenge local noise ordinances face in addressing continuous, low-frequency sound. Local opinions are divided, with some residents believing the data center's noise will be negligible compared to existing traffic.