Data center health impact study approved in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County Commissioners unanimously approved a $165,000 study to investigate the public health and air quality impacts of data center developments. The study, conducted by Empower Analytics Group, aims to inform future regulations for the industry in the county. Residents and commissioners expressed concerns about the rapid pace of data center construction.
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, has greenlit a significant $165,000 study to delve into the public health and air quality implications of numerous data center projects emerging across the county. The Lackawanna County Commissioners – Bill Gahan, Tom Welby, and Chris Chermack – voted unanimously to commission the study, a move that garnered appreciation from county residents concerned about the rapid industrial expansion.
Empower Analytics Group, an organization with prior experience examining the health impacts of projects like the Wildcat Ridge Campus in Archibald, will conduct the study. It will focus on estimating emissions from proposed data center facilities and modeling how potential pollution could spread throughout the region. Commissioner Gahan, who initially proposed the study, highlighted its pioneering nature, stating it might be the first cumulative assessment of its kind in Pennsylvania and potentially the nation. He emphasized the study's purpose is to provide unbiased scientific data to establish "guard rails" for the industry.
Funding for the study, according to county officials, will be covered by repurposed funds from a canceled project in Lackawanna County, supplemented by allocations from the state's recently signed budget. The initiative represents a proactive approach by the county to protect its residents and environment amidst aggressive data center development.