A plan to build a large-scale data center at the former Cleveland-Cliffs steel site in Conshohocken is facing growing backlash, writes Justin Heinze for Patch.
Both residents and local officials express concerns about its environmental and community impact.
Developer Brian O’Neill has yet to reveal which tech company would occupy the 66-acre facility. Critics say the secrecy fuels distrust. They worry the project would bring steep energy demands, high water usage, and potential harm to the Schuylkill River Trail and surrounding neighborhoods.
More than 500 residents have signed a Change.org petition opposing the plan, organized by the grassroots group No Conshy Data Centers. The Plymouth Township Planning Board has already recommended rejecting it, though activists fear a proposed state law could override local authority before the November 17 Zoning Board hearing.
House Bill 502 would shift approval power for major energy projects from local boards to a state-run “RESET” panel. The move is backed by several Montgomery County lawmakers and Governor Josh Shapiro, who has championed data centers as economic drivers.
Opponents, however, argue that the promise of jobs and investment doesn’t outweigh the environmental costs and loss of local control.
To learn more about the debate over the proposed data center, visit Patch.
