Nesquehoning Planning Commission voted to give a proposed data center ordinance it has been working on to borough council for further review.

During the commission’s meeting on Monday evening, approximately 36 residents, environmentalists and representatives for a proposed data center planned for the west end of the borough gathered to ask questions and provide comments.

Greg Haas of Keystone Consulting Engineers and the borough engineer for planning and zoning boards, outlined what was covered in the proposed ordinance.

The draft was initially discussed during the commission’s Feb. 23 meeting, Haas said, adding that “we’ve been kicking around some minor changes to the draft and what we have now in front of us, we feel is a pretty solid and accurate ordinance.”

Within the proposed ordinance, which has not yet been finalized by borough council, includes the definitions of data centers and data center accessory use.

“We are proposing these uses be permitted as a special exception in the manufacturing, industrial, communication, utilities I-1 zoning district,” Haas said.

It also covers the general regulations, dimensional standards, landscaping, buffer requirements, screening and fencing around the facility, noise and vibration requirements, water and sewer regulations, power supply and utility lines, emergency management, access to the facilities, parking, environmental impacts, lighting, construction activities and decommissioning requirements.

The commission then asked if any person in attendance had a comment, however, Solicitor Robert Yurchak stressed before any comments were made that the meeting was not for a formal adoption of the data center ordinance.

“This is the planning commission’s draft of the ordinance, which now goes to council,” he said. “Council is required to then conduct a public hearing before it can be adopted. That’s going to take a little more time. ... It’s not going to be adopted tonight. It’s only going to be formally passed on to council.”

Carol Etheridge, a Mahoning Township resident and member of the group Save Carbon County, asked if the action meant the ordinance would go before council at its meeting on Wednesday.

She was told it would not because there isn’t enough time between the two meetings.

Brandon Fogal, representing Save Carbon County, asked Haas a few questions regarding the requirements for data centers, including the percentage allowed for impermeable surface and setbacks for wetlands and streams.

Marcia Evans, a borough resident, went through a letter she sent council, questioning several items, including decommissioning procedures in the event the center shuts down, utilities to the facility and the rest of the borough and the required environmental impact study.

Grace Butrym, an area resident for the last five years, said that she felt the data center would “wreak havoc on the ecotourism and also small businesses down here.”

She also asked about the cooling process and how the company would release recycled water back into nature.

Commission member Bruce Nalesnik said that the ordinance requires a closed loop system, which Bitfarms has already proposed, which would not release recycled water into the environment.

He said the water usage of approximately 3,000 gallons a day equates to about eight to 10 homes in usage and would be mostly for servicing bathrooms, kitchens and employee needs.

The commission then closed the floor before taking a vote to pass the ordinance as shown on to council.

Nalesnik said that this ordinance is an important first step to ensure the borough is protected when it comes to data center development.

He noted that the next step by the commission will be to review the land development plan and make recommendations on the project. Those recommendations will be passed on to council for a final vote before any part of the project could be started.

Bitfarms, the owner of the Panther Creek Cogeneration Plant, is proposing to construct a four-building data center just off Dennison and Industrial roads in the Hauto Valley Estates portion of the borough. It would be situated on vacant land at the base of the mountain.

It is proposed that it would bring in 297 full-time jobs.

On March 20, Bitfarms reported that its shareholders approved a statutory plan of arrangement to redomicile the company from Canada to the U.S. and rebrand it as Keel Infrastructure.

The redomiciliation is planned to take effect on or about April 1, subject to court approval and other closing conditions.