Pennsylvania residents protest new data center projects

Rain‑soaked demonstrators gathered in Danville, Pennsylvania, on National Data Center Day of Protest to demand more public input before large‑scale data centers are built. Organizers of Concerned Citizens of Montour County warned that hyperscale facilities can consume up to five million gallons of water a day and strain local electricity grids, raising fears of industrialization, noise, and environmental impact.

In nearby New Kensington, the nonprofit Voice of Westmoreland hosted an informational workshop to educate residents about the projects in Springdale and Upper Burrell and the broader data‑center industry. Speakers highlighted concerns over water contamination, referencing a recent incident at a Meta data center in Wyoming, and cited the PJM interstate energy grid auction that added an estimated $6.3 billion to consumer costs over three years. Participants called for stricter regulations or alternative land uses such as manufacturing.

Both events reflect growing opposition in western Pennsylvania to data‑center developments perceived as lacking transparency and community involvement.