BUTLER TOWNSHIP, SCHUYKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Many communities are pushing back against data center development, but one township in our area is taking a proactive approach to the centers, passing two new ordinances on Monday in an attempt to protect their community.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape was at the meeting where the ordinance was passed.
It's no secret that developers have their eyes set on Pennsylvania for data center development, and that includes Butler Township in Schuylkill County.
"If the township, or any municipality, doesn't allow for them somewhere within their borders specifically, a developer can then come in and ask for site-specific relief, which means they could be put anywhere," Butler Township Solicitor Christopher Rightlinger said.
Township officials say no data center development applications have been submitted yet, but there have been rumors, rumors they addressed at Monday's zoning board hearing by adopting two new ordinances governing where data centers could potentially be built.
Town leaders say it's a proactive approach.
"We already have the space and the place where it's not going to have any effect on residents," Butler Township Supervisors Chairman David Kessler stated.
Serving up meals for local fire department in Shavertown
The space Kessler is referring to is a roughly 360-acre plot of land on the township's southern border, currently used as an industrial park and surrounded by a conservation district.
One of the ordinances passed at the meeting expanded that zone into part of the conservation land, while the other designated it as the only zone in the township where data centers can be built going forward, despite the board's emphasis that this would protect its residents.
But some were not convinced.
"Myself, and this young lady right here, are the closest on Mountain Road to where it's going to be built. We own part of the mountain, so you know, we have wildlife like you can't believe," Mildred Kennedy from Gordon said.
"Have we done any environmental studies on the impact of changing this land from woodland conservation or timbering it?" Sheri Herbs from Butler Township asked.
"No environmental studies were done," Rightlinger replied.
"Do we find it pertinent to do any environmental studies?" Herbs followed up.
"No," Rightlinger responded.
"That's a shame, thank you," Herbs reacted.
School teams up with food bank to give food to over 200 families
The board ascertains that studies would be done when and if developers submit their plans for development.
Until then though, people living in the township are encouraging their neighbors to get informed.
"Go to your council meetings, your town meetings, I know we are from now on. Things get slipped through the cracks," Kennedy added.
Township officials say there are talks of a roughly 1,200,000 square foot data center being proposed in the township, but since applications have not been submitted, their ordinances will ensure that it can only be built in the zone containing the industrial park.
