BLAKELY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Plans for three data centers proposed in Blakely Borough have been withdrawn by the developer. 28/22 News Reporter Colby Hughes talked to some of the outspoken voices against the data centers in Blakely.
"We were absolutely thrilled, almost, 'Really?' We were almost in disbelief, and absolutely thrilled," a clerk at Live With It Gift Shop, Lora Hobbs, said.
Hobbs has lived in her Blakely residence for 40 years, and she works at a local gift shop down the hill from her home.
When developers proposed three data centers in the borough, Hobbs would have been one of the residents affected by their placement.
"It would impact us very much and negatively, cause it was just too close. They do belong, they have to be here, they're a part of our culture now, but not in a residential area," Hobbs stated.
She decided, along with some of her neighbors, to start a petition for any other concerned neighbors to sign.
Now, Blakely's Borough Manager, Chris Paone, says the developers have withdrawn their proposals ahead of a public meeting.
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The reaction from residents, not just in Blakely, was one of shock.
"Initially, I couldn't believe it at first, I was a little taken aback, then I realized hopefully this is the truth and what happened and we're being taken care of here, but I sensed a lot of shock from people on social media and throughout the community groups that it was completely withdrawn," John Richardson of Throop explained.
"It's almost like nobody was listening until recently, and again, it's the voice of the people that got that done," Michael Cappellini of Jessup stated.
After seeing the impact of their hard work, many intend to keep up with data center proposals that other boroughs are facing as well.
"We talk about, 'It was a victory in Archbald, it was a victory in Jessup.' They're still going in somewhere, and I think we need to be that unification that we're seeing," Cappellini added.
"With speaking to these other residents, I just felt the need for me to use my voice along with all these other residents, use our voice. We can write letters, we could send emails, we could reach out to local media. There's always something that we can do to make our voice known," said Richardson.
Those 28/22 News spoke with said they found the whole situation to be oddly heartwarming, and they said they are proud looking back on the work they've done.
