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Residents warn commissioners that proposed data centers could overwhelm Archbald and county resources
Summary
Multiple Archbald residents told commissioners that clustered data-center proposals will require massive electricity and water, generate diesel emissions and low-frequency noise, and urged a moratorium and county intervention.
Residents from Archbald and neighboring townships used the public-comment portion of the Lackawanna County commissioners’ meeting to press the board for action on proposed large-scale data-center development.
Madonna Munley, an Archbald resident, said six proposed data-center campuses would cover large areas of her town and include more than 50 buildings, thousands of diesel backup generators, and enormous water and power demands. “Wildcat Ridge alone will use three and a half million gallons a day during the hottest months and that water will come from Lake Scranton,” Munley said. She asked the county to support a moratorium to allow independent study and planning.
Several speakers raised environmental, health and infrastructure concerns: diesel generators and low-frequency noise, potential impacts on schoolchildren near proposed sites, and whether local infrastructure would absorb the electric- and water-demand increases. Residents also cited investigative reporting that, they said, suggests developers helped craft zoning rules that made these projects possible.
Commissioners acknowledged the testimony and said they are reviewing options. One commissioner described attending hearings in which developers presented benefit analyses and said staff will consult planning and legal experts, including outreach with Penn State Extension, to host broader public forums. County staff noted that while some land-use decisions are municipal (zoning) matters, the commission can examine impacts where county-owned property, infrastructure or services are implicated.
Where this stands: Commissioners did not adopt a moratorium at the March 18 meeting but said they will pursue technical briefings and public forums and continue legal and planning review to identify potential county actions or advocacy steps. Residents requested clearer data about projected water withdrawals, generator counts and community-health studies before decisions proceed.
