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Susquehanna County holds public hearing on data-center amendment and new battery storage ordinance; no public comment
Summary
At a Susquehanna County public hearing, county solicitor Stephanie Farah introduced two proposed SALDO amendments: Ordinance 2026-3 (data centers) and Ordinance 2026-4 (battery energy storage systems). No members of the public signed up to speak; the county admitted exhibits into the record and closed the hearing.
Susquehanna County commissioners opened a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. to consider two proposed amendments to the county ivision and land use ordinance (SALDO). Commissioner Hall presided and turned the hearing over to county solicitor Stephanie Farah, who explained the process and presented the exhibits the county planned to enter into the record.
"My name is Stephanie Farah. I'm with the law firm of Gabriel Farah, and we serve as solicitor for the county," Farah said, and she described the two ordinances under consideration: Ordinance 2026-3, an amendment addressing development, construction, operation and decommissioning of data centers; and Ordinance 2026-4, a new ordinance governing battery energy storage systems in the county.
Farah said the ordinances are "enabled by the municipal planning code," which requires a public hearing before adoption. She listed the exhibits the county would offer in support of the ordinances, including the ordinance texts themselves, Susquehanna County Planning Commission minutes (January 27, 2026, and November 25, 2025) and proofs of publication in local papers showing notice on March 25 and April 1.
Commissioner Hall summarized the intent of the measures, saying the data-center amendment incorporates recommendations from an earlier public hearing and planning commission review, while the BESS ordinance is new to the county and is framed "for the protection of our fire departments and our communities, as well as trying to work with the corporations and companies that are doing this." Hall then asked whether anyone wished to provide testimony; Farah and Hall reported no letters or other correspondence had been received.
Solicitor Farah asked the body to admit the exhibits into the record. The proceedings record identifies a motion to admit all exhibits and evidence moved by Commissioner O'Darrell and seconded by Christian McNamara; those present voiced their approval. After admitting the exhibits, a motion to close the hearing record was made (record indicates the motion was by Commissioner McBurner, second by Commissioner Darryl) and the chair announced the record closed at 9:06 a.m.
No public commenters signed the sign-in sheet (county exhibit 11), and no substantive changes to the proposed ordinances were recorded during the hearing. The county indicated the exhibits would remain available at the front of the room and that anyone who decided to speak could still have an opportunity before final adoption.
The commissioners paused briefly after the hearing before beginning their regular meeting.
