Community in Washington County unanimously approves ordinance creating data center restrictions
South Strabane Township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, unanimously approved new ordinances regulating data center development after months of resident opposition and debate. The new rules include significant setbacks from homes, decommissioning bonds, and vibration standards, aiming to protect residents from potential impacts of future data center projects.
The South Strabane Township Board of Supervisors in Washington County, Pennsylvania, has unanimously approved new ordinances to regulate data center development and noise, following over six months of public debate and resident opposition. The measures, which are among the most stringent in Pennsylvania, include a 1,500-foot setback requirement from residential homes, a decommissioning bond equal to 125% of projected costs, a $25 million insurance requirement, and specific vibration standards of 200 micrometers per second.
Jeff Bull, Vice Chair of the township supervisors, stated that while the goal was not to prevent development, the township is legally required to allow for data centers. He emphasized the importance of having protections in place should a project be proposed, noting the substantial research taxpayers funded to achieve this. The Pennsylvania Data Center Accountability Coalition, a watchdog group, gave the ordinance a B+ before its adoption, praising provisions like the setback and bond requirements.
The approved ordinance comes amidst strong public sentiment, evident from "no data center" signs displayed across front yards in the township. CNX Resources owns a 1,400-acre property in the township where a large data center project could potentially be proposed in the future, although no formal plans have been submitted. Bull indicated that any future project would likely be exceptionally large.
Reporter Cara Sapida concluded the report, noting that residents expressed mixed opinions and varying levels of understanding regarding data centers and the new regulations, with some looking to the EPA for enforcement of cooling technology language.