Former Harmony Township Chair Disputes Data Center Conflict Claims
Former Board Chairman Tom Roden denies manipulating zoning for a data center project while his lawyer challenges new energy project moratoria.
Former Harmony Township Board Chairman Tom Roden is disputing allegations that he manipulated local zoning regulations to benefit the Harmony Energy Park, a proposed 540-megawatt data center. Through his attorney, Joel Fremstad, Roden asserts that he disclosed a conditional purchase agreement with the developer, Geronimo Power, to township officials in May, several months before he resigned in August.
Simultaneously, Roden's legal team is challenging six proposed 24-month moratoria on energy projects, including wind, solar, and battery storage, which the Harmony Township Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on this Thursday. Fremstad argues that the draft resolutions were generated using automated software within a 14-minute window on October 11, suggesting the bans lacked proper legal and technical review.
Township Board Chairman Dustin Burchill confirmed the draft resolutions were available on October 11, noting this occurred before the board had secured replacement legal counsel.
