Planning commission recommends fossil‑fuel generating facilities ordinance to supervisors after public questions on setbacks, noise and water

The South Strabane Township Planning Commission voted to recommend a proposed fossil‑fuel electric generating facilities ordinance to the board of supervisors after extended discussion and public comment about setbacks, noise, permitting and water impacts. Staff described the draft ordinance as closely aligned with the township’s data‑center regulations and said it would confine such facilities to industrial zones, add setbacks and require compliance with DEP and other state permitting.

Said staff: "We're trying to protect the citizens as much as possible… We cannot say no data centers. We only have to locate them to industrial areas only, not in agriculture or residential properties," and noted proposed setbacks including 1,500 feet from an occupied residential structure, 500 feet from a property line and a 100‑foot vegetative buffer. Resident Dennis Malone, who identified himself as living on Porter Hill Road, expressed concern about the pace of data‑center and generator proposals, asking whether protections would cover schools and hospitals and how much time residents would have to review material. "After reading things about the data centers, it's new, and it's coming in so fast in so many areas," Malone said. Staff and commissioners emphasized that discharge and water‑quality issues fall under state DEP oversight and that the ordinance is meant to provide local siting, noise and decommissioning standards; the commission moved, seconded and voted to forward the ordinance to the supervisors, subject to specified acreage and facility‑size language.