Towamensing Township held a hearing Monday to “obtain, discuss, inform and hear public comment” regarding the township data center ordinance. They have held three public workshops prior to the hearing.

Chair of the board of supervisors, Guy Seifert, explained that “No permits have been issued. Nobody asked for anything.” regarding data centers.

Resident Barry Hahn expressed concerns about a data center’s effect on the environment and quality of life. His wife Tara noted that she would like “the truth of what’s happening. I feel like it’s sneakily done and not very transparent.”

Linda Christman from Save Carbon County expressed that she believes the ordinance is good on water and decommissioning. Nine pages of the ordinance are about water.

Christman asked if a data center would be approved by conditional use. The answer was “no” as data centers could only be approved by special exception in heavy commercial and limited industrial areas. Seifert noted that “We want to make us (the township) look as unattractive as possible. There will be no spot zoning.”

Scott Ritchey asked if this was the only opportunity for public comment. The response was that public comment would be taken at the next supervisor’s meeting as well.

All residents had concerns about water, electricity, noise and vibration.

Engineer Greg Haas noted that there are requirements for buffers in the ordinance and that everything in the zoning ordinance also applies to data centers.

The draft includes nine pages of protocol for water usage. This includes a water feasibility study, aquifer testing and water quality testing.

Haas explained that they are providing for this use (data centers) somewhere. Attorney Tom Nanovic reiterated, “This ordinance is not preventing data centers.”

All state, federal and DEP regulations required would be followed.

The data center ordinance will be put on the agenda for vote on Oct. 7.