The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has launched an interactive map showing the locations and environmental impacts of planned data centers.
The “Data Center Permit Tracker” from the Department of Environmental Protection shows 65 data center projects across the state. As of Tuesday, Sept. 1, 21 of those projects are “confirmed,” meaning the developers have applied for DEP permits for things such as air quality, erosion and sediment control, water obstructions and encroachments and sewage planning.
Most of the planned data centers on the map, 44, are “unconfirmed,” and do not yet have DEP permit applications attached to them.
There are no operational data centers in Pennsylvania, according to the state’s map. A few have received their DEP permits, but most are either under review or have not submitted permit applications.
The majority of data center projects in the state are in the Eastern and Western regions, and Northeast Pennsylvania is home to the largest cluster with nearly 40.
The data-center sprawl just reaches into South Central Pennsylvania.
There is one project in Cumberland County. Known as Pennsylvania Digital 1 (PAX-1), it is under development by Carlisle Development Partners in Middlesex Township, which is just northeast of the Carlisle borough.
On the other side of the Susquehanna River are two data center projects that the DEP lists as unconfirmed. The Highland East and Londonderry data centers are both planned in communities southeast of Harrisburg.
Are any data centers planned in Franklin County?
Except for that project in Cumberland, Franklin and surrounding counties are free of data center developments.
Earlier this year, the county commissioners passed a model ordinance that municipalities can use to set rules for companies that may seek to develop data centers in the area. While Pennsylvania gives municipalities all authority over zoning, the commissioners took up the ordinance as the growing number of data center developments around the state and nationwide caused local people to push for restrictions.
Non-zoning communities comprise the western half of Franklin County, which is more rural and sparsely populated than the eastern half. About 20% of the county’s population of approximately 160,000 people live in the area, which includes Tuscarora, Fannett-Metal and parts of Chambersburg school districts.
A number of municipalities have used the county’s ordinance as a basis for their own law.
Gov. Shapiro reverses course on data centers
The DEP map follows an executive order from Gov. Josh Shapiro that increased regulations on data center developers.
The Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development initiative makes standards for data center developers who want the state’s support, according to a statement from Shapiro’s office. Among the rules, developers are required to provide their own electricity and be transparent with local governments and residents about their plans to protect the environment.
The order comes a year after Shapiro promoted Amazon’s plans to build data centers around the state.
