Stop Archbald Data Centers makes case against proposed Wildcat Ridge campus
The "Stop Archbald Data Centers" movement presented a public health assessment to the Archbald borough council, arguing against Cornell Realty Management's proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus. The assessment warned of significant air pollution and health damages from nearly 600 diesel generators. The council is holding ongoing hearings on this and another data center project.
The "Stop Archbald Data Centers" movement, represented by attorney Justin Richards, presented a public health assessment by Dr. Michael Cork to the Archbald borough council, urging them to deny Cornell Realty Management LLC's application for the Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus. The proposed campus in Archbald, Pennsylvania, would include 14 data centers with nearly 600 diesel backup generators.
Dr. Cork's 40-page assessment highlighted concerns about potential air pollutants and estimated annual health damages ranging from $3.3 million to $124 million. The project's diesel generators, each with a 2,000-gallon fuel tank, could emit significant fine particulate matter, which Dr. Cork stated is directly linked to increased health risks. The project is also projected to require 1.6 gigawatts of electricity and over 3.3 million gallons of water daily during peak times.
The public hearing, the sixth on Wildcat Ridge since January, saw a large crowd of over 600 residents and elected officials, with occasional outbursts during cross-examination by Wildcat Ridge attorney Megan S. Haines. The Valley View School District's board of education has also joined the opposition, gaining legal standing to challenge data centers due to potential impacts on students. The Archbald borough council is scheduled to reconvene for its seventh hearing on Wildcat Ridge on July 13 and another hearing for a separate "Project Green Mountain" data center campus on August 6.