Upper Burrell residents decry transparency as data center progresses despite moratorium and a lawsuit
A large data center project by TECfusions in Upper Burrell Township, Pennsylvania, faces multiple hurdles including an enacted moratorium, a proposed new zoning ordinance, and a lawsuit filed by residents and an environmental group. Residents are demanding more transparency and proper zoning procedures, while the township supervisors defend their process and efforts to regulate data centers.
A large hyperscale data center project by TECfusions in Upper Burrell Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, is encountering significant community opposition and legal challenges. Residents raised concerns about transparency and the township's approval processes for work permits and site plans at a recent board of supervisors meeting.
The project, known as TECfusions Keystone Connect, is planned for the former Alcoa Technical Center site and could eventually generate up to 3 gigawatts of power. Although Upper Burrell Township enacted a 180-day moratorium on new data center development in May, it does not apply to building permits already granted to TECfusions for work on Building J, which is already partly operational. The township supervisors also approved a land development plan for this building on August 5th, a decision contested by residents.
Protect PT, an environmental advocacy organization, along with residents Guy Fuller and Allen Uhler, have filed a land use appeal with the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. They argue that the township board should have required TECfusions to go before the zoning hearing board and obtain a special exception before proceeding with the land development plan. Supervisors are currently working on a new zoning ordinance for data centers, with a draft approved by the planning commission and a newer version available online. This draft includes a controversial requirement for developers to provide their own "baseload generation power.
Residents pressed the board to integrate power generation regulation into the data center ordinance, or to pass a separate power generation station ordinance swiftly. Board Vice Chair Kenneth Slahtovsky stated his focus was on the data center ordinance, which the planning commission is scheduled to review on September 15th. The moratorium is set to expire on November 2nd.