Wildcat Ridge Data Center launches campaign touting finances, questioning foes

The Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus, proposed by Brooklyn-based Cornell Realty Management LLC, has initiated a public relations campaign to promote its economic benefits and challenge the motives of its opponents in Archbald, Pennsylvania. This campaign includes a 12-page booklet mailed to residents and a new website, WildcatRidgeDataCenter.com, which touts estimated annual tax revenue of over $46 million and 1,280 permanent jobs for Lackawanna County, Archbald, and the Valley View School District. The project, which seeks to build 14 data centers along with commercial and office space on 574.2 acres, has faced significant local opposition, with hundreds of residents attending public hearings. Concerns primarily revolve around the campus's projected water usage of up to 3.3 million gallons per day during peak summer and its electricity demand of 1.6 gigawatts. The campaign attempts to reframe these concerns as "myths," arguing for a state-of-the-art water system using less water on average and highlighting Pennsylvania's energy surplus. The Wildcat Ridge website also directly questions the opposition, implying outside interests or a vocal minority. Tamara Misewicz-Healey, co-founder of the "Stop Archbald Data Centers" Facebook group, which has over 8,000 members, characterized the campaign as "propaganda" and a "personal attack." Her group is actively fundraising for legal fees to oppose the data center's zoning. The Archbald council has not yet voted on Cornell Realty Management's conditional use application, with a third public hearing scheduled.