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Archbald used to be at the epicenter of coal mining and transportation in the area. However, it has since turned into a quiet town with the decline of the coal industry in the early 1900s, which is why many were surprised by the developers’ interest in putting up data centers in the area.
(Image credit: Data Center Proposal Tracker ) (Image credit: Google Maps) But because a main power line cuts directly through the town, data centers would have easier access to the power they need without needing to invest significantly in grid infrastructure. The 500-kV Susquehanna-Roseland power line connects the 2.5-gigawatt Susquehanna nuclear power plant to New Jersey and goes directly over Archbald. When paired with the abundant land and fresh water available in the area, it just made sense for AI hyperscalers to build their infrastructure where the resources they need are readily available.
You may like Small Missouri town ousts city council after it approved $6 billion AI data center Local political revolts threaten to derail US data center projects Virginia voter support for new data centers collapses from 69% in 2023 to 35% in new poll The community is passionately pushing back against these developments, though. Many are concerned about the effects of these sites on local utilities, as well as their potential for noise and light pollution. Communities neighboring data centers have started complaining of higher electricity rates and reduced power quality , and it has gotten to the point that President Donald Trump personally asked hyperscalers to promise that they’ll take steps to address the issue via the “ratepayer protection pledge.” Nevertheless, it seems that these commitments aren’t enough, as many local governments have started pushing back on these projects , resulting in delays costing billions of dollars.
While the developers and the town government are grappling over permits, one project took advantage of a loophole and started cutting trees on their property. While this was a legal move, newly elected Archbald town council member Larry West stated that it revealed the town’s dirty past, which, according to The Washington Post , took decades for the coal dust to clear. “Now, it’s happening again, but this time, it’s data centers,” West said.
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/servers/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/desktops/servers/six-ai-data-centers-proposed-for-a-small-town-of-7-000-equal-to-51-walmart-supercenters-in-17-square-mile-area-four-out-of-the-seven-town-council-members-have-resigned-from-their-positions-as-town-fights-back#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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