Middlesex Township postpones data center vote after meeting surpasses capacity
Middlesex Township officials postponed a vote on a proposed data center complex, known as Pennsylvania Digital 1 or PAX-1, after more than 150 residents attended the meeting, creating a fire hazard. The vote, which concerned the approval of one of six buildings on the campus where construction is already underway, has been rescheduled to August 19 at a larger venue.
Middlesex Township officials were forced to postpone a vote on a proposed data center complex, Pennsylvania Digital 1 (PAX-1), after a public meeting on Wednesday night drew over 150 residents, exceeding the municipal building's capacity. The large turnout led to safety concerns due to overcrowding, including people sitting on the floor, prompting the postponement.
Construction for the PAX-1 data center, located along Country Club Road in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, is already in progress, with the initial zoning having been previously approved. The purpose of Wednesday's meeting was to approve one of the six buildings planned for the campus.
The vote has been rescheduled for August 19 and will take place at a middle or elementary school to accommodate a larger audience. Township officials indicated that separate votes would be held to approve each of the remaining structures within the proposed data center project.