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Upper Merion EAC urges supervisors to study data-center impacts, discusses electrification and naturalized landscapes
Summary
At its March 3 meeting the Upper Merion Environmental Advisory Council discussed collecting data for the Board of Supervisors about potential community impacts of AI/data centers and reviewed code-reform ideas including electrification, EV- and solar-ready requirements, a gas leaf blower ban and naturalized landscape rules.
The Upper Merion Township Environmental Advisory Council on March 3 discussed asking the Board of Supervisors for stronger guidance on data centers and other code reforms, including building electrification and EV- and solar‑ready requirements.
Chair Zachary Davis summarized the council’s concern that large AI/data centers could affect residents and urged members to gather and present data to supervisors. Council members reviewed several possible regulatory approaches, including sound restrictions for data centers and infrastructure requirements for new construction to support electrification, and recommended consideration of EV‑ready and solar‑ready wiring as routine standards for new development.
The council also discussed proposals that would address small-scale energy and landscape policy: a suggested ban on gas leaf blowers, a naturalized landscape ordinance intended to limit invasive species, and rules to allow or encourage balcony solar installations. Members did not adopt formal policy at the meeting; Zachary Davis asked staff and volunteers to assemble information to bring to the supervisors for future consideration.
The council noted the township has applied for a Shared Energy Manager grant to aid energy-transition planning but reported no updates on fleet transitions, EV charging stations or the Montco EV webpage model ordinance. No votes on ordinances or formal code amendments occurred at the meeting.
Next steps: council members said they will compile data and materials to present to the Board of Supervisors and watch the regional AI data‑center workshop on March 10 for additional guidance and technical input.
