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West Chester committee moves to study data-center zoning after staff flags energy, water and air concerns
Summary
Committee members agreed to further review model ordinances and seek planning‑commission input after staff warned that large data centers can strain the PJM grid, require large water supplies for cooling and use diesel backups that produce pollution and noise. No data center application has been filed.
West Chester staff urged the Smart Growth Committee to prepare ahead of potential data‑center proposals, citing energy, water and environmental risks while noting no application is currently pending.
“A municipality cannot ban the use of a data center,” Aaron Flook, the borough’s director of building, housing and code enforcement, told the committee. He summarized a county planning presentation that warned of increased demand on the PJM grid, potential water‑cooling impacts and noise and pollutant risks from diesel backup generators used for monthly testing.
Flook…
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