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Resident warns commissioners against hyperscale data centers, urges compensation for nearby homeowners
Summary
Rick Scribe, a Goshen resident with 40 years' experience in data centers, told commissioners hyperscale facilities can harm noise-sensitive people, wildlife and property values and urged the county to require compensation or stricter contract terms before approvals.
Rick Scribe of Wallen Court in Goshen addressed the board during public comment and said he is not categorically opposed to data centers but urged commissioners to "take very careful consideration" before approving hyperscale facilities. Drawing on four decades in the industry, Scribe raised specific concerns about persistent noise, impacts on the water table, high-voltage distribution infrastructure, and wildlife displacement; he said such projects can depress home values by "a couple $100,000" and proposed establishing funds to compensate neighbors when approvals cause loss of value.
Scribe also said roughly "20% of the population are known as highly sensitive people" who can be harmed by noise and described inadequacies in typical sound-mitigation measures and contract terms. He closed by urging stronger conditions in approvals and better protections for adjacent residents; no county response or immediate action was recorded during his three-minute comment.
