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2 days ago
- Business
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Senate data center hearing at Valley View largely touts benefits
ARCHBALD — At least 200 concerned residents filled the Valley View High School auditorium Monday afternoon for a state Senate hearing on data centers, where a panel of experts largely touted the benefits of the rapidly growing, artificial intelligence-fueled industry rushing to build sprawling facilities throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Addressing the large crowd gathered midday Monday at the Valley View High School — a school district with the most data center proposals in Northeast Pennsylvania at five across its three towns — a panel of experts from across disciplines testified for just over three hours during a Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing, chaired by state Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-40, Middle Smithfield Twp., and state Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, Rush Twp., the chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee whose whose district encompasses Schuylkill, Carbon and southern Luzerne counties. * Community members listen and take notes during the roundtable discussion regarding proposed data center developments at Valley View High School in Archbald on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Senator Rosemary Brown speaks about data centers during the roundtable discussion held by the Senate Majority Policy Committee at Valley View High School in Archbald on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * (Left to right) Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry's director of of government affairs Neal Lesher, president and CEO of Team Pennsylvania Abby Smith, president and CEO of Penn's Northeast John Amazon Web Services Public Policy's senior manager Merle Madrid during the roundtable discussion held by the Senate Majority Policy Committee at Valley View High School in Archbald on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 3 Community members listen and take notes during the roundtable discussion regarding proposed data center developments at Valley View High School in Archbald on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand There are at least nine data center projects proposed across Lackawanna and Luzerne counties with three in Archbald and one project each proposed in: Blakely, Jessup, Clifton and Covington townships, Hazle Twp., Salem Twp. tapping into a nuclear power plant and Sugarloaf Twp. Argall and Brown, who requested the hearing and solicited written questions from constituents, opened with remarks emphasizing the need for information on data centers. The hearing was neither for nor against data centers, but rather about education and uncovering updated factual information, Brown said. 'At the very core of this hearing is the question … 'Why? Why do we need data centers, and why is it so pressing?'' Brown said, pointing to the use of data centers in everything from online shopping to Google searches to ChatGPT. 'The question then jumps to, how do we provide and keep up with these demands? … How do we take advantage of the economic benefits while ensuring our power grid, our water supply, the environment, health and safety, security and the citizens are always protected at the highest level.' For the next three hours, 19 subject matter experts offered testimony across four categories: economic development, energy and water resources, local impact and construction and workforce. They represented a broad range of industries, including Amazon Web Services and the data center industry, economic development agencies at the local and state level, utility companies, river basin commissions, Marcellus Shale and petroleum industry representatives, statewide municipal leadership organizations, real estate, education and construction unions. The first speaker, Merle Madrid, the senior manager of public policy at Amazon Web Services, which is Amazon's cloud computing arm, quickly touted the tech and e-commerce giant's plan to invest $20 billion in Pennsylvania to expand its data center infrastructure to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Amazon announced data centers in Salem Twp. in Luzerne County, tapping into the Talen Energy nuclear power plant, and a second in Bucks County. Madrid projects the data centers will create at least 1,250 new, high-skilled jobs while supporting thousands of other jobs in the data center supply chain. 'There's a lot of talk when it comes to data centers, and rightfully so, about the energy and water needs. We understand that,' Madrid said. 'At Amazon, we're constantly innovating data center designs to reduce their impact on the environment and the community, and working to power them with carbon free energy and making them more energy and water efficient.' Emphasizing the role of nuclear energy, in addition to the Talen power plant, Madrid said Amazon is exploring using small modular nuclear reactors at the facility. John Augustine, president and CEO of Penn's Northeast, a Pittston-based collective aiming to promote new investments, jobs and business opportunities by promoting Northeast Pennsylvania, characterized data centers as the 'fourth industrial revolution,' following coal and iron as the second wave and warehousing and distribution as the third. He said his firm is working with or aware of at least 15 data centers in Northeast Pennsylvania, though he doesn't expect all to materialize. He pointed to financial incentives, like a large data center contributing $32 million a year in local economic activity and generating $9 million in state and local tax revenue. Both Augustine and Madrid described technologies like quieter fans or more efficient liquid cooling to reduce noise and water demands. Christine M. Martin, the president of PPL Electric Utilities, and Tony Nokovich, vice president of engineering at Pennsylvania American Water, both pointed to previous and ongoing investments into their infrastructure to position the utilities to address the water and electricity needs. Martin said PPL currently has a system peak of 7.5 gigawatts of power, or 7,500 megawatts, with 14.4 gigawatts of data center loads under advanced agreement. 'That took us about 100 years to get to, so talking about roughly a doubling of our system peak in the next five to six years, which is obviously transformational not just to the commonwealth and the 29 counties (served by PPL) but also for our system to be able to serve that load,' she said. For the first gigawatt of load in PPL's system from data centers, paired with an accompanying $100 million investment, Martin said it would average a 10% reduction in transmission charges for residential customers, with the first gigawatt being most impactful and every additional gigawatt implemented having added benefit. She noted the potential need for more power lines to power the centers. An average water-cooled data center could use up to 3 million gallons per day in the summer months, dropping to potentially 800 gallons per day in January, Nokovich said. 'These extreme demand swings present potential challenges to system design and operation,' he said. Water utilities like PAW would have to construct facilities to satisfy the large demands, and the demand could require large transmission needs and storage tanks, with PAW positioned to manage the stress as it invests about $700 million into infrastructure annually. Nokovich urged legislators that as they look at policy measures to streamline the growth of data centers, they should also consider water demand forecasting, infrastructure cost sharing, capacity agreements, alternative water sourcing mandates and operational resilience and demand management requirements. 'We are willing and encourage the General Assembly to work with us and other stakeholders to develop an impactful strategy to assist with the growth of data centers in the commonwealth,' he said. 'These measures, coupled with regulatory oversight, will ensure customers of Pennsylvania American will continue to receive clean, safe, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services.' Others, like Patrick Henderson, vice president of government affairs and communications at the Marcellus Shale Coalition, stressed the importance of using natural gas to fuel data centers and the need for more pipelines to accommodate them. Susquehanna River Basin Commission Executive Director Andrew D. Dehoff acknowledged the potential water-saving technology but said his colleagues in Atlanta, Texas and Virginia are in 'full-on panic mode' about how they'll meet water demands from data centers. Data centers can strain local water resources, as do the power plants needed to power the facilities. Power plants are by far the basin's largest consumer of water, he said. It is critical to discuss water demands early into the site selection and design process, he said. Environmental sustainability needs to be the standard, not the exception, Dehoff said. Holly M. Fishel, policy and research director at the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, stressed the importance of local governments and their ability to balance the wishes of developers with residents. She criticized the push to fast track approvals. 'Faster isn't better if rights are trampled,' she said. 'To be clear, PSAT opposes any effort that would preempt local control of land use decisions.' Other speakers continued to emphasize the economic benefits of data centers, the significant growth in workforce with high-paying jobs and the ability to retain local workers and the need for streamlined and easier-to-navigate permitting, among other discussions. Argall concluded the hearing just after 4 p.m. by saying Monday's hearing is not the end of the discussion. 'This is the beginning,' Argall said. Proposed data centers Lackawanna County Archbald Wildcat Ridge AI Data Center Campus: An estimated $2.1 billion, 17.2-million-square-foot proposed data center campus spanning nearly 400 mountainside acres along Business Route 6 and Wildcat Road, or Route 247, in Archbald. The data center campus would consist of 14 three-story-tall data center buildings, each with a 126,500-square-foot footprint. The land was previously proposed for housing and commercial use. Project Gravity: A data center campus that would be built on just over 186 acres between Business Route 6 and the Eynon Jermyn Road in Archbald, with entrances on both roads. Proposed by New York City-based Western Hospitality Partners, operating as Archbald 25 Developer LLC, Project Gravity would have at least six two-story data center buildings, each with a 135,000-square-foot footprint. Archbald Data & Energy Center: A project to remove the Highway Auto Parts auto salvage yard on the Eynon Jermyn Road and build three data centers, each under 70 feet tall with a roughly 150,000-square-foot footprint, along with ancillary buildings and structures. Blakely Data center in Blakely: A newly proposed data center campus calling for four roughly 300,000-square-foot- total, two-story, 70-foot-tall data center buildings in Blakely off of Business Route 6 and Terrace Drive. The project is proposed to use 1.5 gigawatts of power. The site previously was going to have 40 single-family homes, plus townhouses and commercial space, but the developer changed those plans. Jessup Breaker Street Associates LLC data center: A nearly 1.1-million-square-foot, 130-foot tall data center facility off Breaker Street in Jessup near Hill Street, covering 131 acres and using 600 megawatts of power. Clifton and Covington townships 1778 Rich Pike LLC data center: A data center campus spanning nearly 1,000 acres along Interstate 380 in Clifton and Covington townships, composed of an estimated 25-30 buildings, each up to three stories with about 125,000 square feet per floor. The project could use up to 1.5 gigawatts of power and would represent a more than $10 billion investment. Covington Twp. allowed small modular nuclear reactors to power data centers in its zoning, though the technology is not yet ready to be implemented. Luzerne County Hazle Twp. Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development plans to construct 15 buildings and ancillary buildings between late 2026 and 2029 on 472 acres by the west side of Interstate 81 near the Humboldt Industrial Park. Project Hazelnut would create about 900 construction jobs and another 900 permanent jobs once the complex is fully operational. Salem Twp. Amazon plans to invest at least $20 billion to establish multiple high-tech cloud computing and artificial intelligence innovation campuses across Pennsylvania, with one of the first to be built in Salem Twp. Amazon had previously announced plans to build a series of data centers near Talen Energy's nuclear power plant in Salem Twp., having bought hundreds of acres of land around the power plant, and Talen Energy had sought approval to increase the amount of power the plant would directly supply to Amazon for the data centers. However, members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 2-1 against the proposal in November after a handful of electric utilities filed a complaint with the commission, asking it to hold a hearing to scrutinize Talen's interconnection service agreement with Amazon or deny the energy deal altogether. Still, officials appear confident in the plan to establish a data center campus. Sugarloaf Twp. LBT Investment Group LLC of Chicago wants to construct a data center consisting of six buildings all 200,000 square feet apiece and allocate 10 acres for electrical substations near Tomhicken Road. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
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Senate Committee: Stream maintenance key to preventing devastating floods
Mar. 15—During a public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee this week in Williamsport, local officials and conservation experts shared their perspectives on how maintaining and repairing streams prevents flooding from wreaking havoc on homes and employers. The hearing was hosted by Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, and chaired by Sen. Dave Argall, R-Pottsville. Much of the discussion focused on proven strategies to prevent flooding including developing and protecting wetlands, providing access to floodplains, and stabilizing stream banks, as well as strategies like dredging gravel which can do more harm than good. Funding sources like the Growing Greener program were also reviewed in detail. The need for more flexibility for local and county governments to address emergency situations quickly in flood-prone areas was also discussed. Permitting delays were cited as a significant roadblock to removing obstructions and other flood-related hazards, with Yaw calling the process "lengthy, tedious, and inefficient." "Last year, nearly every county in my district was impacted by severe flooding from Tropical Storm Debby," Yaw said. "We have an opportunity to help local officials respond more quickly and efficiently to flood-related problems by allowing them to repair and remediate our streams. Proper stream maintenance protects our communities from flood damage." Sen. Argall said any community that has experienced the devastation caused by severe floods will tell you how important it is to plan ahead before the next storm hits. "We've seen how effective stream management can make a world of difference in communities like Pine Grove and Tremont, who experienced devastating floods from the Swatara Creek for years until a team of conservation experts, municipal officials, local employers, and state legislators and agencies created and executed a comprehensive plan to repair the local watershed," Argall said.. Yaw said he will soon reintroduce a package of bills to empower counties, local governments, and conservation districts to promptly act to ensure damaged waterways do not harm nearby communities. Last session, these bills were introduced as Senate Bill 689 and Senate Bill 690. Both bills were approved with bipartisan support in the Senate but were not considered by the House of Representatives. PennDOT and Anthracite Scenic Trails Assoc. to hold public meeting on March 20 The Anthracite Scenic Trails Association (ASTA) invites the public to a public meeting with plans display regarding the Oliver Mills to Mountain Top D&L Trail Segment project. The project consists of constructing a multi-purpose trail on the alignment and grade of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad. The existing surface is an unimproved rail bed with no rails and little or no ballast. The project also includes a trailhead on Lehigh Street in the vicinity of Woodlawn Avenue. The work includes grading and placement of an aggregate trail surface. This project is in Fairview and Hanover townships and Laurel Run Borough in Luzerne County. The construction of this project is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DCNR) and PennDOT under the Transportation Alternative Set Aside (TASA) program. Hanover Township is the administrator of the TASA portion of the funding under an agreement with PennDOT. Construction is anticipated to take place in late 2025. There will be little or no impact to vehicular traffic. The trail may be closed to trail traffic during construction. Public meeting The in-person public display meeting for the project will take place: Time: 7 p.m. Date: Thursday, March 20 Location: Earth Conservancy office, 101 South Main St., Ashley The public comment period is from March 20 to April 18. The purpose of the plans display is to introduce the project, display and describe the project, and receive public input regarding questions or concerns with the project. Presentation material is available on ASTA's website Walnutport Post Office unveils Appalachian Trail Stamps The Walnutport, PA Post Office dedicated the Appalachian Trail Stamps — which includes one trail in Pennsylvania — at the Walnutport Post Office, 249 Lehigh Gap St., Walnutport, PA, 18088, on March 7. Alexis McAllister, Assistant Trail Committee Chair-East, Blue Mountain Climbing Club joined Walnutport Postmaster Kate Hutter in dedicating the stamps. Hutter's two children, Otto and Brooke, also delivered speeches regarding how young and old alike can enjoy the PA trail. Customers also were able to obtain a special cancellation to commemorate the event. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail offers 2,200 miles of unspoiled nature to the millions who hike it each year. Within easy reach of large East Coast metropolitan areas, the Appalachian Trail — often called the AT — provides peace, beauty and a break from the stresses of modern life. Stamp Artwork According to the U.S. Postal Service: —The pane of 15 Forever stamps includes photographs taken by Dave Allen, Hanit Mizrachi Avondoglio, Justin Birt, Sandra Burm, Jenna Foster, Ed Heaton, Drew Housten, Angelo Marcialis, Brent McGuirt, Jessica Rodriguez, Kevin Rohn, Nico Schueler, Bart Smith, and Ryan Tasto. —On the first row, are images from the "green tunnel" — the iconic Mount Katahdin in Maine, and a waterfall in Tennessee. —The second row of stamps feature photos taken from Mount Washington in New Hampshire facing the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, a waterfall along the trail in Georgia, and a view of the Green Mountains in Vermont. —The third row includes an image of a creek in Pennsylvania, a sunset highlighting the fall foliage in the Hagerstown Valley section of the trail as it runs through Maryland, and a view from Jefferson Rock in historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. —Rhododendron blooms in the Roan Mountain highlands of western North Carolina grace the first stamp of row four, followed by a waterfall in the foothills of New York's Catskill Mountains, and a scene from the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. —The last row begins with one of the most iconic sites along the trail, McAfee Knob in Virginia. Next is an image from part of New Jersey's portion of the A.T., a boardwalk that serves to protect a fragile wetland ecosystem. The last stamp photograph shows a footbridge in Connecticut that spans the Ten Mile River at the point where it flows into the Housatonic River.
