NorthPoint Development offers $10,000 to Pennsylvania households for data center project

NorthPoint Development has proposed a massive 1,300-acre data center campus in the Pocono foothills near Hazle Township, Pennsylvania. To secure local support for the 15-building project, the developer has offered $10,000 in direct payments to approximately 4,500 households, a total payout of $45 million. This offer is part of a broader community-benefit package valued at up to $165 million, which includes funding for education, workforce training, and local services.

Despite the significant financial incentive, many residents have rejected the offer, with some characterizing the payments as a bribe. Local opposition is driven by concerns regarding noise pollution, potential declines in property values, and the high demand for water and electricity required to cool and power AI infrastructure.

The project faces significant regulatory hurdles; Hazle Township supervisors previously voted to deny land-development plans, and the township has since enacted a moratorium on new data center applications while drafting new zoning rules. NorthPoint is currently challenging previous rejections in court.