A proposed multibillion-dollar data center project in Nesquehoning received conditional approval from another borough board, allowing the company to continue pursuing what it says would be the second-largest private project in Pennsylvania.

During a Nesquehoning Zoning Hearing Board meeting — delayed by about an hour before it began — representatives of Bitfarms Ltd. sought a special exception for the property where the data center would be built. The land is currently zoned R-1, though it is located within an industrial business area.

Carolyn McGee, counsel for Bitfarms, said the company applied for a special exception because the borough’s ordinance neither explicitly permits nor prohibits data centers within borough limits.

She introduced Chief Operating Officer Liam Wilson; Craig Hibbard, senior vice president of infrastructure; and Rachel McCune, civil engineer, who provided an overview of the project and answered questions from the board.

Wilson said data centers require on-site workers, countering the perception that they operate autonomously.

“That is not the reality,” he said. “This can’t be run by computers. It’s housing computers but it can’t be run by computers.”

He said the company expects to create 297 full-time jobs once the project becomes operational, including security guards, janitors, administrative staff, manufacturing roles, managers and operators.

Wilson said the company hopes to fill most of those positions with residents of Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

“It’s 297 roles and there is no plan for that to go down over time,” he said.

Wilson said construction alone is expected to cost $7.5 billion before computers are installed. He added that the construction phase would create more than 400 jobs and support the local economy during that period.

Board members asked about traffic patterns, noise levels, lighting, and electrical and water usage. Bitfarms representatives said those issues would be addressed in accordance with a borough ordinance that is being finalized by the planning commission.

After the board’s questions were answered, the floor was opened to public comment.

Donna King, a resident of Hauto Valley Estates, said she has concerns about property values and cited research she conducted on noise, water usage and environmental impacts.

She also questioned whether local residents would qualify for the jobs, saying she believes the degrees required may not align with what area colleges offer.

Wilson disagreed.

“When we look at the roles that this project needs, it may sound like engineers, but it’s basically like an engineer for a huge piece of HVAC equipment and that’s not something you need a degree for,” he said. “Essentially, I’m going to say, about 85% of the roles on here do not require any level of tertiary education.”

Wilson said janitors would earn about $61,000 annually, security guard supervisors would make more than $150,000, and the average salary and benefits package for several roles would total $157,000.

“We want to hire everyone that we possibly can in Nesquehoning, Carbon County and the surrounding areas. We don’t want to bring people in,” Wilson said, adding that while some outside hires may be necessary, the goal is to build a sustainable employment base within Carbon County.

He said the company has also held discussions with Lehigh Carbon Community College about providing training if needed.

A brief executive session then was held, with the board coming back to confirm that Bitfarms would be following the ordinance being created and not looking to get approval before that ordinance was complete to circumnavigate the borough’s wishes.

McGee said the borough had allowed Bitfarms to look through the proposed ordinance and discussed and agreed upon the items during the planning commission meeting Monday.

“It is the intent to comply,” she said.

The board, in a 3-0 vote, then approved the requested special exception with the condition that the letters of the planning commission and borough engineer outlining the requirements be followed.

The action now allows Bitfarms to continue moving forward with its land development plan submission, which officials said Monday, was going to be submitted Tuesday.