COVINGTON TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— As talks of data centers ramp up nationwide, people in one local community are taking a stand to tell potential developers and the township's zoning board no.
The meeting in Covington Township drew hundreds of residents, many of them, angry with the idea of data centers being built in their backyards.
28/22's Avery Nape has the story.
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It was a packed house at the Covington Township zoning board meeting Thursday evening.
The hot topic is the vote on an amendment which would establish a data center and energy technology district in the township.
The developer wants to build a data center there.
Residents though, were not happy. Dozens took to the podium to call out developers and plead with the board not to move forward.
"These three stooges over here. They demanded our attention, look at them over there. Two of them, on their phones, texting, doing whatever," stated August Barhight, Covington Township.
"If they're so confident that it's not going to hurt the local area, how about cutting us in? Make us shareholders. 50% sounds fair to me," added Barhight.
The centers would reportedly cover more than 1,000 acres between Covington and neighboring Clifton Townships with 25-30 buildings.
Among concerns from residents, noise pollution, negative environmental impacts, and energy use.
An estimated 1,500 megawatts would be needed to power the campuses, enough to power more than one million homes.
"Last year, in the winter, many in our community didn't have power for days. How did that work and how is an already stressed power system going to work, adding a massive data center," asked Alexis Burns, Covington Township.
Clifton Township is in an even tougher position.
Due to a hole in the township's ordinance, the developer, 1778 Rich Pike LLC, is now challenging their ordinance, as it never specifically mentions data centers.
"If they vote no, that doesn't mean someone else doesn't come behind me and put in what is called a substantive validity challenge, which is what's happening down in Clifton," stated Anthony Maras, attorney, 1778 Rich Pike, LLC.
Future development is not entirely off the table in Covington Township though, as the centers are classified as legal business under the current ordinance.
The fate of Clifton Township is not yet known.
A zoning meeting for Clifton Township will be held Tuesday July 29 at 7:00 pm where residents can comment on the potential development.
