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Commissioner urges countywide cumulative health assessment for proposed data centers
Summary
A commissioner cited an independent public‑health screening that estimates hundreds of additional asthma cases and potential premature deaths tied to a proposed hyperscale data center, and urged a countywide cumulative health impact assessment before further approvals.
A Lackawanna County commissioner urged the board to commission a countywide cumulative health impact assessment of proposed hyperscale data center and power‑plant projects, citing an independent screening by Dr. Michael Cork that projects substantial public‑health harms under plausible operating scenarios.
The commissioner said the report, which used EPA methodology and the applicant’s own data, estimates approximately 850 additional asthma cases per year in an elevated scenario, between 1.3 and 2.3 premature deaths annually, and public‑health damages that could range from $21 million to $35 million depending on assumptions. "There are 588 diesel generators and approximately 1,000,000 gallons of diesel fuel stored on‑site," the commissioner said, stressing the need to study cumulative emissions, construction impacts, noise and emergency scenarios. He announced plans to invite Dr. Cork and his team to submit a formal proposal to the county for a comprehensive assessment.
Commissioners and the public commented that the screening is a starting point and that cumulative impacts across multiple proposed projects remain unquantified. The commissioner said the study could inform county and state officials and help frame regulatory and mitigation discussions. No formal countywide study was adopted during the meeting; commissioners agreed to pursue funding options and further review.
