Archbald Borough Council unanimously denies Wildcat Ridge Data Center application
The Archbald Borough Council unanimously denied the application for the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center after nearly a year of hearings. Residents strongly opposed the project, citing concerns about its effects on the community, while the project’s attorney argued that it met the borough’s ordinance standards.
After nearly a year of public hearings, the Archbald Borough Council rejected the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center application in a unanimous vote. The decision followed a standing-room-only meeting at the community center, where residents voiced strong opposition and applauded speakers criticizing the project.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan said the borough could determine whether the community and local families would bear the costs of powering artificial intelligence. Attorney Edmund Campbell, representing Wildcat Ridge, argued that the proposal met the standards of the borough’s ordinance and urged the council to approve it. The council ultimately rejected the application, prompting a celebratory response from residents.