A Butler Township resident urged Schuylkill County Commissioners to support a statewide moratorium on data center development during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s work session.
Roseann Weinrich, a retired science teacher, presented a detailed statement outlining concerns over the rapid growth of hyperscale data centers in Schuylkill County and across Pennsylvania. Reading from a prepared document, she called on state and local officials to halt new permits and construction until further independent studies are conducted.
Weinrich argued that many projects are being “fast-tracked” with limited public input, and in some cases, involve non-disclosure agreements between elected officials and private companies.
Her concerns focused on several key areas, including potential environmental and health impacts. She cited risks such as noise, land and water pollution, the creation of “heat islands,” and unknown long-term effects on both residents and wildlife.
Weinrich also raised concerns about infrastructure, pointing to the large amounts of water required to operate data centers and the potential strain on the region’s aging power grid.
From an economic standpoint, she questioned claims about high-paying job creation, suggesting that if the projects were as profitable as advertised, they should not require tax incentives.
In her remarks, Weinrich referenced Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which guarantees the right to a clean environment, and urged officials to protect those rights.
“We, the People, will not sit in silence while our guaranteed constitutional rights are being violated,” she stated.
She concluded by calling for a statewide moratorium on data center permits and construction until the industry can demonstrate that such developments will not infringe on residents’ rights.
Initially, commissioners acknowledged her comments with a brief “thank you” before moving on in the agenda. However, the topic resurfaced later in the meeting when another resident asked officials to respond more directly to the concerns raised.
Commissioner Larry Padora offered a more detailed perspective, emphasizing what they described as the financial benefits of data center development.
According to Padora, the county faces a “balancing act” between generating revenue and raising taxes. He stated that the addition of three data centers could potentially prevent a county tax increase for eight to ten years, noting that without new revenue sources, taxes would likely rise as operational costs increase.
The commissioner also addressed concerns about location, stating a preference for placing data centers on reclaimed coal lands, areas described as being “in the middle of nowhere”, rather than on farmland or near residential communities.
In response to infrastructure concerns, the commissioner said newer data centers often utilize “loop water systems” designed to minimize water consumption. They also noted that some facilities are required to generate their own power or contribute excess energy back to the grid.
Additionally, it was pointed out that utility provider PPL is already expanding high-voltage transmission lines and substations in the region, which has made Schuylkill County an attractive location for such projects.
While commissioners acknowledged the concerns presented, their comments focused largely on the potential economic benefits and the role of industrial development in maintaining the county’s financial stability without increasing the burden on taxpayers.
There was no indication during the meeting that commissioners plan to support the proposed moratorium or sign the petition.
