Lawmakers Denied Access to Amazon Data Center in Pennsylvania

Members of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania were denied entry to completed buildings at an Amazon data center site in Salem Township, Luzerne County, during a prearranged visit on Tuesday. While the delegation was permitted to view the exterior and areas still under construction, they were barred from the finished facilities.

Eddie Pashinski, a Democratic Representative and board member of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, revealed the incident during a public hearing at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg on Wednesday. The denial of access sparked a divide among lawmakers. Republican Senator Gene Yaw defended the company's actions as standard private business security, while Democratic Senator Judy Schwank characterized the decision as a mistake.

The incident occurred amid broader discussions regarding the fiscal and environmental toll of the data center boom on rural communities. During the hearing, Fayette County Commissioners’ Chairman Scott Dunn testified that Pennsylvania's tax structure is inadequate compared to Virginia's, as the state only taxes real estate and fails to capture revenue from equipment. Additionally, Salem Township codes officer Brian Rhone criticized the state Department of Environmental Protection for a lack of transparency throughout the permitting process.