Local, state groups hold town hall to plan advocacy for data center regulations
Dozens of residents and advocacy groups gathered at a town hall in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, to plan next steps for advocating for increased data center regulations in Centre County and across the state. The event highlighted concerns about hyperscale AI data centers' environmental impact, utility costs, and transparency issues. Organizers aim to educate communities, oppose specific projects in other counties, and push for statewide legislation.
A town hall was held in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, to coordinate advocacy efforts for stricter data center regulations across Centre County and the state. The event, hosted by Central PA United and other organizations, focused on educating residents about the potential impacts of hyperscale AI data centers, which are designed for artificial intelligence needs.
Speakers from Central PA United, Voice of Westmoreland (VOW), No Data Centers in Mifflin County, and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania discussed their initiatives to either actively oppose proposed data center projects or promote regulatory frameworks. Key community concerns cited included higher utility bills, increased water consumption, noise pollution, impacts on property values, and the preservation of green spaces.
While Centre County currently has no hyperscale data center proposals, Robert Zeigler, an organizer with Central PA United and Vice President of the Millheim Borough Council, stressed the importance of proactive local government regulation. Rose Piern, a Greenburg resident and VOW organizer, shared experiences from Allegheny County's Springdale and Westmoreland County's Upper Burrell Township, where VOW is actively opposing projects and facing challenges with developer non-disclosure agreements. Piern highlighted how some local governments in the Rust Belt, seeking economic revitalization, can be vulnerable to attractive data center proposals.
Attendees collaboratively strategized on advocating against data centers and for regulation at both local and state levels, with a particular focus on educating the public on the environmental and societal effects of hyperscale data centers. Piern also expressed hope for a statewide coalition to lobby politicians in Harrisburg to enact data center regulations, noting opposition from State Senators Kim Ward and Joe Pittman to such legislation.