Northeastern Pennsylvania -
The state Senate will hold a public hearing with a roundtable discussion on data centers next week in Archbald, organizing a panel of experts in the town with the most proposed data center projects in Lackawanna County.
The Senate Majority Policy Committee will host the public hearing on data center development Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Valley View High School auditorium, 1 Columbus Drive, Archbald, state Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-40, Middle Smithfield Twp., said in a news release Monday. The three-hour hearing will include a panel composed of local officials, representatives from business and labor interests, the energy sector, conservationists and economic developers, according to the announcement. Brown and state Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, Rush Twp., will chair the hearing.
In a newsletter Friday, Brown invited residents to submit feedback and questions that they would like addressed by the panel in order to help shape the discussion. Comments must be submitted at least five days prior to the hearing by visiting senatorbrown40.com/data-center.
Brown said in her newsletter that the goal of the hearing is to help local governments, residents and state government better understand data centers, their operations and what role the state plays in their development.
“Recently, conversations around data center development have become more frequent. The topic is appearing in local headlines, at community meetings, and in communications to me raised by residents across our district,” she wrote. “As this complex issue continues to evolve, so does the need for clear, reliable information and meaningful public dialogue.”
The hearing provides a critical opportunity for local government, state officials and the public to come together and explore the facts surrounding data center development, Brown said in a statement Monday.
“As this issue continues to spark strong opinions and concerns, it’s more important than ever that we engage in informed, constructive dialogue based on reliable information,” she said. “At my request, the Senate Policy Committee is convening this hearing in my district so we can better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with this rapidly evolving industry and ensure that any decisions made are in the best interest of our residents.”
Argall, whose district encompasses Schuylkill, Carbon and southern Luzerne counties, echoed Brown in an accompanying statement, saying he looks forward to learning more about the important issue.
“Locating data centers in Northeast Pennsylvania could improve our economy; however, we must ensure that our local communities are protected from any harmful side effects,” said Argall, who is the chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee.
There are at least five data center projects proposed in Lackawanna County with three in Archbald, one in Jessup and one — the largest in the county — in Clifton and Covington townships.
John Augustine, president and CEO of Penn’s Northeast, will be among the panelists next week after Argall’s office invited him to attend. Penn’s Northeast is a Pittston-based collective aiming to promote new investments, jobs and business opportunities by promoting Northeast Pennsylvania.
Augustine lauded Brown and Argall for convening the forum and giving subject matter experts the opportunity to present facts. For example, with water consumption being a major concern surrounding data centers, especially in communities like Clifton and Covington townships who rely on well water, Augustine said that as the industry changes and advances, companies are using less water and relying more on air cooling. Northeast Pennsylvania’s colder climate will also lower the need for cooling, reducing how much water they use, he said.
Augustine expects the hearing to address other items like timelines, potential local tax revenues, land usage, noise pollution and hours of operation.
“The data centers themselves want to educate — they want to be good neighbors,” Augustine said. “It’s important to have an educated public.”
There has not yet been a public forum regarding the various permitting and zoning issues in different municipalities, and Augustine anticipates the hearing will showcase some best practices from other towns, ideally helping local municipalities to streamline their permitting process for data centers.
“I hope that it brings more people to the table to understand the myths and be able to discern them from the facts,” he said.
