HANOVER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A conditional use hearing over plans to build seven data centers in Hanover Township drew a packed crowd Monday night, with supporters and opponents debating the project for roughly three hours.
Prime Data Centers, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is seeking approval of two conditional use applications for the proposed development at Starpointe Business Park.
The applications are for a seven-building data center campus totaling 1.7 million square feet and an attached 450-megawatt, natural gas-fired power-generation facility intended to supply electricity to the campus.
Opposition to the project was visible outside and inside the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department hall, where the hearing was held.
At least 200 people were in attendance.
Several people raised concerns about how the proposed data centers could affect nearby homes and the environment.
“We have to listen to the sound, the noise, the light pollution, the air pollution, the water pollution,” Patricia Cipia of nearby Burgettstown said.
An attorney representing Prime Data Centers presented the company’s applications and, along with Prime Data Centers representatives, explained why it is interested in the area.
“For us, it was a great industrial location close to a major metropolitan area, with an active labor force,” Kate Nolan Bryden, Senior Vice President of Development at Prime Data Centers, said.
Kendra Smith, attorney with Smith Butz, spent more than two hours questioning the company’s project lead, Bryden, about issues including permanent jobs, traffic and possible environmental effects.
In a statement to Channel 11, Bryden said:
“Local elected officials are best positioned to set the parameters for large-scale development, and that is exactly the process underway in Hanover Township.
“We remain committed to seeing the process through to the end, because we trust that this project should be confirmed for conditional use at Starpointe.
“We truly believe this is the best use of the land and our goal is to bring new economic life to this industrial park.
“We look forward to the next step in this process and to continuing our engagement with township officials and community members.”
The project also has support from some people who work in the area.
According to a letter obtained by Channel 11 that was apparently sent to Alex Paris Contracting workers, Prime Data Centers asked the company to help fill the hearing with supporters of the project.
Channel 11 spoke with Alex Paris Contracting Vice President Emanuel Paris, whose relatives are co-owners of Altian Development, the company that owns the land where the data centers would be built if approved.
“We see a really great opportunity for local jobs to be created and long-lasting local jobs from the construction side,” Paris said.
At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting, Hanover Township Solicitor Dennis Makel announced the conditional use hearing will resume Monday, Sept. 21; Thursday, Sept. 24; Tuesday, Sept. 29; and Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Each public hearing will be held at the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department, 9 Starck Drive, Burgettstown, PA.
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