Butler Twp. prepares data center rules

Butler Township supervisors in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, are planning to introduce what Solicitor Donald Karpowich described as one of the most aggressive ordinances in the county to regulate data centers. The proposed ordinance, based on a model from Food and Water Watch with modifications, is scheduled for a public hearing on May 12 at 6 p.m., followed by a vote on its enactment. While no data center developers have yet presented plans for the township, state law mandates municipalities to include provisions for data centers in their zoning ordinances. The draft ordinance would permit data centers only in industrial zones via special exception, requiring zoning board approval. It specifies a minimum site size of 50 acres, building heights up to 50 feet, and a maximum size of 250,000 square feet. Strict setbacks would be enforced, requiring facilities to be 2,000 feet from residential areas and 1,000 feet from other uses, streams, wetlands, or floodplains. Developers would be required to conduct sound, vibration, lighting, and environmental impact studies before, during, and after construction. The ordinance also includes mandates for a 50-foot perimeter buffer with fencing and specific tree/shrub requirements, along with fire suppression, evacuation, and decommissioning plans. For utilities, developers must certify that public electric and water suppliers can meet the data center's demands. If a data center plans to generate its own power or use non-public water, separate zoning approvals and feasibility studies would be required. Solicitor Karpowich expressed doubt that a data center would be attracted to the township due to a lack of suitable infrastructure, particularly the high-voltage electric lines needed. Water supply is also a significant concern, highlighted by residents like John Natafalusy and Larry Houseknecht during discussions about a separate revised plan for a 192-unit apartment complex called 'the Howard at Butler,' which faces its own challenges with public water supply permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection.