Data center concerns have residents asking Allegheny County to step in, but its power may be limited
Residents in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, are raising concerns about the environmental and economic impacts of data centers, urging the county to implement safeguards. While the county is developing a non-binding model zoning ordinance, its regulatory authority over issues like water and electricity use is limited. A specific data center project in Springdale Borough was approved despite opposition, prompting advocates to seek broader county-level regulation.
As Southwestern Pennsylvania emerges as a potential hub for data centers, residents in Allegheny County are expressing significant concerns about the industry's environmental and economic ramifications. During a public meeting on the county's Climate Action Plan, community members voiced worries about air quality, property values, heavy water and electricity consumption, carbon emissions, and potentially exaggerated job creation estimates. Tamisha Singletary, from the Taylor Park Orchard Tenders in Wilkinsburg, highlighted the omission of data centers in the climate action plan, despite its implied relevance.
At least 13 new data centers have been proposed across Western Pennsylvania, with one already under construction. Specific proposals within Allegheny County include projects in Springdale and Stowe, alongside others in Washington, Westmoreland, and Beaver counties. Following a contentious approval by Springdale Borough for a data center project by Allegheny DC, residents have sought intervention from Allegheny County to regulate such developments. Allegheny DC, the developer, has reportedly modified its plans to address noise and aesthetic concerns.
Brittany Prischak, Allegheny County's sustainability director, acknowledged the county's limited regulatory power, noting that issues like water, electricity, and employment fall under state or federal purview. However, the county is developing a model zoning ordinance, expected by year-end, which will define data centers and recommend sustainable construction practices. Prischak emphasized that these recommendations will not be legally enforceable, leaving adoption to individual municipalities. While the county health department can address air pollution violations, its ability to proactively regulate data center impacts is restricted. PennFuture staff attorney Brigitte Meyer clarified that while municipalities can regulate certain aspects, they cannot use zoning to outright ban data centers or control power consumption once built. The county is exploring requirements for on-site sustainable energy, but enforceability remains a question, as it aims to balance economic development with climate pollution reduction.