Mahoning Township leaders amend data center ordinance to be more specific

Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania, leaders have amended a previously passed ordinance regarding data centers, following criticism from residents who found the initial regulation too vague. The ordinance, originally passed in April 2026, aimed to limit where data centers could be built within the community. During a May 2026 meeting, the township's Board of Supervisors revised the ordinance to incorporate more specific language, including requirements for space, decibel levels, and utility usage. Residents had raised concerns about potential health effects from data centers. Board member Gary Pezzulo confirmed the goal of the ordinance was to control data center locations. The township began examining data center regulations in late 2025 after national media coverage, though no specific data center proposals have yet been submitted to Mahoning Township.