By Danielle Smith
As data center projects continue expanding into rural communities, some Pennsylvania residents are organizing to push back.
In Columbia Borough, council members unanimously rejected a $6.4 million bid from Saadia Holdings to build a data center on the former McGinness Airport property.
Taylor Enterline, an organizer with Pennsylvania Stands Up, said more than 500 residents attended the council meeting. She said the turnout was driven by outreach efforts that included door-to-door canvassing and residents sharing personal stories.
Enterline said residents questioned the lack of transparency around the proposal, as well as potential environmental and quality-of-life impacts.
“People live right next to this large field,” Enterline said. “This town is a river town. They work really hard. There is a sense of pride, and they did not want an outsider coming in and trying to set up shop. Specifically, also, they did not want this backroom deal.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro recently announced Responsible Infrastructure Development standards for data-center development, requiring stricter rules on energy use, transparency and community input.
Some residents and environmental groups argue the standards are not strong enough to sufficiently regulate data centers, while industry groups contend the standards will impede future development.
Several proposed data centers in the state have been blocked, cancelled or delayed after community pushback, including developments in Blakely and Hazle Township.
In Columbia Borough, Enterline said concerns centered largely on noise, energy use and water demands. She added residents also doubted the project would bring long-term economic value.
“These are short-term jobs you could get from construction, but we don’t know if there are actually gonna be local construction companies that are being used,” she said. “Wanting to keep, allow and make jobs that would impact the people of that community, and the data center would not have that.”
The McGinness property spans about 41 acres along Manor Street and has been a financial challenge for the borough for years. Officials hope to sell the land to ease that burden.
Related: Here are the properties where data centers could go in Pocono Township
