Hearing for proposed Archbald data center gets heated as hundreds express environmental, economic concerns

Data center developers are proposing to build a large campus called Wildcat Ridge in Archbald, Pennsylvania, which has sparked heated debate among local residents and officials. The project would include 14 buildings over 200,000 square feet each, requiring hundreds of generators and millions of gallons of water. While the developers argue the project will bring significant economic benefits, including over 1,200 jobs, local officials and residents have expressed concerns about the environmental impact and the developers' claims. Some residents have hired a lawyer to challenge the reliability of the data presented by the developers. The debate highlights the tensions and tradeoffs involved in data center development in local communities.