‘Spineless:’ Dozens packed a routine meeting for the Pennhurst data center as board weighs 1.9 million square foot proposal

A heated public hearing was held Monday evening in East Vincent Township, Pennsylvania, concerning a controversial proposal for a 1.9 million-square-foot data center at the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital site. The conditional-use meeting, which lasted over four hours, was marked by loud resident opposition, yelling, and the eventual call for removal of an attendee by board chairman Mark Brancato. Nearly 60 residents sought "party status" to formally participate in the proceedings, allowing them to testify and cross-examine witnesses. However, the three-person township board denied status to many applicants, drawing boos and discontent from the audience who cited proximity and environmental concerns. Residents and neighboring Spring City officials have urged the township board to reject the project, citing concerns about environmental impact, public health, and strain on the power grid. Both the township's planning and environmental commissions have recommended denial. The current application has been revised to include on-site power generation and battery storage. Joe Clement, the township's solicitor, emphasized that the board is far from making a decision, with an upcoming hearing on May 18th to determine if the application meets conditional use zoning requirements. The developer's spokesperson stated they are "ready, willing and able to continue" with the hearings.