Allegheny County Bans Big Data Centers on Its Own Land, Vote Was Unanimous
Allegheny County Council unanimously banned large-scale data centers (25 MW+) on county-owned land and buildings, citing concerns about electricity and environmental impacts. This ban does not affect private land, where zoning remains under municipal control, as seen with the ongoing Dynamo DC project in Springdale. This local action comes as Pennsylvania implements statewide policies to manage data center growth and mitigate strain on the power grid.
Allegheny County Council unanimously voted to ban the construction and operation of large-scale data centers, defined as those drawing 25 megawatts or more of electricity, on any county-owned land or in county-owned buildings. The ordinance also prohibits associated infrastructure such as generators and cooling systems, addressing concerns over electricity consumption, water usage, and environmental impact.
This county-level ban, championed by the Sustainability and Green Initiatives Committee, does not, however, extend to privately owned property due to Pennsylvania's land-use laws, which delegate zoning authority to individual municipalities. This distinction is critical for projects like the 180-megawatt Dynamo DC data center planned for Springdale, a former power plant site. Developed by Allegheny DC Property Co., a subsidiary of Davidson Kempner, the project has been redesigned to mitigate resident concerns but still requires county approvals.
The county's action is part of a broader statewide effort in Pennsylvania to manage rapid data center growth. Governor Josh Shapiro has issued an executive order requiring local approval before state environmental permit reviews and removing data centers from a state fast-track program. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has established a tariff model for large-load customers (50 MW+) to ensure they directly cover the grid infrastructure costs rather than shifting them to residential ratepayers.
These collective measures reflect a significant concern that hyperscale computing facilities could overwhelm Pennsylvania's power grid and impact household utility bills if left unregulated. While Allegheny County has acted to restrict development on its own land, the ongoing municipal-level zoning debates, including those surrounding Springdale's Dynamo DC and similar ordinances being pursued by several other Allegheny Valley municipalities, underscore that the broader regulatory landscape for data center development in the region remains highly contested and unresolved.