East Vincent Township officials and activists are looking at the potential for the former Pennhurst State Hospital property to be developed as a data center or tire-burning plant, writes Evan Brandt for The Daily Local News.
During a recent special town hall meeting, officials said that the property owners have suggested both potential uses, but no formal plan has yet been filed.
This has prompted supervisors to intensify efforts to craft a new zoning ordinance, creating guardrails for any proposed data center. The issue is now gaining attention nationwide due to AI’s massive computing and energy demands.
Township Manager Robert A. Zienkowski noted that the township has been working with East Vincent Advocacy, an activist group, to draft an ordinance regulating data centers.
The group presented the township with a 22-page document on Sept. 8, aiming to “protect the rural nature of the township,” said Monica Shriver, quoting a statement from East Vincent Advocacy president Dana Ciaffone.
“We want to get out in front of this, rather than react to this,” said Supervisors Chairman Craig A. Damon II.
Read more about the developmental future of the former Pennhurst State Hospital site in The Daily Local News.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on MONTCO Today in September 2025.
