Lehigh Valley Stands Up holds community conversation on impact of data centers
Lehigh Valley Stands Up organized a community discussion in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, focusing on the potential environmental and resource impacts of data centers in the region. Residents voiced concerns about water, electricity, air pollution, and noise, emphasizing the need for proper regulation and community input. The event highlighted ongoing opposition, including a previous protest against a proposed data center in Allentown.
On a Saturday, residents gathered at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for a community conversation organized by Lehigh Valley Stands Up. The event focused on the growing use of artificial intelligence and the potential impacts of data centers on communities throughout the Lehigh Valley. Dr. Maggie Riegel, an attendee and instructor at Northampton Community College, expressed her opposition to generative AI and her passion for community issues.
A primary concern discussed was the increasing number of proposed data centers in the region. Gillian Wenhold, an organizer with Lehigh Valley Stands Up, warned that unregulated data centers could strain local resources, citing concerns over water and electricity consumption, air pollution, and noise. She expressed skepticism about developers' claims that closed-loop cooling systems would eliminate environmental harm, arguing that water is still consumed and released.
The discussion also referenced a protest in July against a proposed data center at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. in Allentown. While project representatives maintained the site is crucial for regional digital infrastructure and would utilize a recycled-water cooling system, Wenhold and other organizers believe these facilities offer no benefit to communities. Lehigh Valley Stands Up emphasized residents' power to influence decisions on emerging technology and infrastructure, stating their intention to participate in future data center meetings across the region to ensure community voices are heard in project approvals.