Upper Merion data center meeting draws hundreds

Brian O’Neill, founder of King of Prussia-based MLP Ventures, presented plans for eight data center buildings spanning over 4.5 million square feet in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, during a packed planning commission meeting. The proposal, which also includes a 2 million-square-foot data center in nearby Conshohocken, has sparked intense local opposition, with over 11,000 residents signing a Change.org petition. Residents expressed concerns about the project's potential impact on quality of life, environment, health, home values, noise, and water usage, particularly regarding local aquifers.

During the five-hour meeting, attendees frequently interrupted O'Neill with boos and shouts, despite his reassurances about being a "good neighbor" and making efforts to address concerns. The projects are estimated to consume 900 megawatts of electricity, powered by natural gas generators, and feature closed-loop cooling and mitigation measures for air quality, noise, and light pollution. While O'Neill's attorney argued data centers are permitted as "warehouses" under current zoning, the township recently adopted a stricter data center zoning ordinance. However, the developer is not legally obligated to comply fully as proposals were submitted before the ordinance was enacted, though they are "endeavoring" to meet new requirements.

The planning commission made no decisions at the initial public hearing and plans for more meetings before making a recommendation to the board of supervisors. Separately, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced new "GRID Standards" for data centers to qualify for fast-track permitting and tax benefits, focusing on energy affordability, transparency, community engagement, economic development, and environmental protection statewide.