As data centers continue to expand across Pennsylvania, new polling shows residents in Southeast PA are among the most skeptical about seeing the massive facilities, writes Erin McCarthy for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
That tension has already surfaced near Conshohocken, where plans for a proposed 2-million-square-foot data center were withdrawn earlier this year over legal issues.
A recent survey from Emerson College and Real Clear Politics found Pennsylvanians evenly split on data centers overall, but far less enthusiastic when projects are proposed in their own communities. In Southeast Pennsylvania, 45% of residents say they strongly or somewhat oppose nearby data centers.
Concerns center largely on infrastructure strain. More than 70% of respondents cited worries about electricity and water usage, and a similar share support requiring data centers to generate their own power rather than draw from the grid. Those issues have played prominently in local conversations around development density and utilities in and around Conshohocken.
The poll also reflects broader unease about artificial intelligence, with many residents expecting job losses and negative economic or environmental impacts. As proposals continue to surface, Conshohocken is likely to remain part of a growing regional debate over if data centers fit into suburban communities.
To learn more about the survey and regional data center proposals, visit The Philadelphia Inquirer.
