Monday is last day to submit comments to the county regarding data centers
Indiana County, Pennsylvania, is actively seeking public input on potential county ordinances to control future data center development, with Monday being the deadline for submissions. This proactive step aims to protect natural resources and communities through responsible development policies. Additionally, a statewide bill proposing a three-year moratorium on hyperscale data center siting and permitting has been introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Indiana County officials, led by the Office of Planning & Development Executive Director Byron G. Stauffer Jr., are taking proactive steps to gather public comments regarding potential county ordinances to control future data center development. The deadline for submitting comments to Indiana County officials is Monday. The county's initiative, announced on the Indiana County Office of Planning & Development website, aims to protect natural resources and communities by establishing responsible development policies. Stauffer noted that while land use decisions are primarily municipal, the county administers the Indiana County Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) for 32 municipalities and is reviewing it for amendments related to data centers and other "mega projects", similar to provisions for solar and wind.
The local group Concerned Residents of Western Pennsylvania (CROW) has taken credit for the county's decision to launch the online feedback portal. CROW recently submitted its own recommendations, informed by Franklin County's data center ordinance and Physicians for Social Responsibility, and encouraged other residents to participate. CROW has also urged county commissioners to advocate for a statewide moratorium on data center development.
In parallel, state Sen. Katie Muth (D-Montgomery County) has filed Senate Bill 1359, co-sponsored by Sens. Carolyn T. Committa (D-Chester County) and Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe County), which proposes a three-year pause on hyperscale data center siting and permitting across Pennsylvania. The bill was referred to the state Senate Local Government Committee, where no action has been taken to date.