US Residents Protest Data Center Expansion in PA and WI

Local communities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are mobilizing against the expansion of data centers, citing concerns over environmental impact and governance. In Granville Township, Pennsylvania, approximately 300 residents attended a special meeting to discuss a draft ordinance intended to restrict future development. Following public feedback, Township Solicitor Fred Lighty announced revisions to the ordinance that include lower building heights, third-party reviews of energy reports, and protections for private groundwater wells.

Simultaneously, more than 100 residents from multiple municipalities in the Town of Turtle, Wisconsin, protested a proposed cost-sharing agreement with Panattoni Development Co. The developer offered a $250,000 deposit to cover the town's professional fees for vetting a project proposal. Town supervisors postponed a decision on the agreement until next month to seek greater clarity on how the funds would be spent.

Tony Evers, the Governor of Wisconsin, defended the industry by stating that data centers increase the state's ability to compete nationally. Despite this, opponents in Wisconsin are organizing regional networks to share strategies for halting these projects.