McCormick says CBS knew of wife’s Meta role amid flak over Archbald data center report

A CBS Sunday Morning report on data center development, which included opposition to a proposed project in Archbald, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, has sparked controversy. Opponents of the Archbald project criticized the segment for not disclosing that U.S. Senator Dave McCormick's wife, Dina Powell McCormick, serves as President and Vice Chairman of Meta, a significant player in the data center industry. This omission led to concerns about a potential conflict of interest and a lack of transparency regarding the impacts of large data facilities. Senator McCormick's office responded, stating that CBS was aware of Dina Powell McCormick's role at Meta and affirming the Senator's compliance with U.S. Senate ethics rules. Senator McCormick, in an interview, emphasized the crucial need for community involvement and transparency from developers on issues such as job creation, environmental protection, water supply, and energy costs. He stressed that developers must commit to not burdening the power grid or increasing prices and should disclose any community contributions upfront. The 'Stop Archbald Data Centers' group on social media expressed surprise at the lack of disclosure. Residents continue to voice ongoing concerns about the proposed data center's effects on local infrastructure, water, and energy demand. CBS News has declined to comment on the omission, while the proposed data center in Archbald remains a subject of heated debate in northeastern Pennsylvania.