Board discusses proposed data centers: zoning amendments, water use and electricity worries

Board members and attendees at a Carbon County open-space meeting raised concerns about proposed data-center developments and how local zoning and infrastructure would address them.

"It says a minimum of 10,000 gallon a day up to 30,000 gallon a day," Speaker 3 said when describing projected water use for a data center under discussion, and warned that groundwater and local water authorities could be affected. Speaker 4 said a township had amended its zoning ordinance to add data-center provisions and that the amendment had been sent to the county planning commission for review.

Speakers expressed multiple infrastructure concerns: electricity demand and costs, water draws on aquifers and reservoirs (Speaker 3 mentioned Pine Run and Pear Creek Lakes as part of the watershed feeding local authorities) and the cumulative effect of multiple speculative projects. Speaker 7 described regional energy dynamics on the PJM grid and cautioned about thresholds for adding large new loads; Speaker 9 and others noted municipalities are updating zoning proactively to avoid curative amendments from developers.

Public-advocacy activity was cited. Speaker 5 reported people collecting petition signatures opposing a data center and recommended inviting that group (identified in discussion as Safe Carbon County by one speaker) to an upcoming meeting so they could explain concerns. Several board members encouraged monitoring the planning commission review and asking the proposing company to respond to water and energy questions.

Next steps: the county planning commission will review the township amendment; staff and board members said they will follow up with more information and potentially invite community groups to speak at a future meeting.