Armstrong commissioners tout responsible data center development
Armstrong County Commissioners discussed the potential for responsible data center development in the area, emphasizing that new centers should address concerns like noise, water usage, and electricity consumption. They expressed support for data centers if properly regulated and developed in appropriate locations, such as not on farmland or brownfield sites.
The Armstrong County Commissioners, John Strate and Anthony Shea, expressed their support for data center development in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, provided it is executed responsibly. During their regular meeting last Thursday in Kittanning, they relayed insights from the recent annual conference of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP), which they attended alongside commissioner Pat Fabian.
Commissioner Strate acknowledged past issues with early data center designs regarding noise, water, and electricity usage but highlighted that newer facilities are incorporating closed-loop water systems and are designed to be more energy-efficient. He stressed that development should prioritize local contractors and avoid placement on farmland or brownfield sites within communities like Ford City.
Commissioner Shea, who serves as vice chairman of CCAP
’s technology committee, alleged that much of the negative information about data centers circulating in the U.S. originates from China. Both commissioners agreed that data centers could provide a significant economic boost, citing an example from the CCAP conference where a county generated 40% of its tax revenue from such facilities. They emphasized that any development would only be supported in municipalities that also back the initiative.