https://protectourpoconos.com/news/ Curated reporting and updates on data-center proposals and land-use decisions in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania. en-US https://monroecountypa.com/event/2026/10/tobyhanna-township-zoning-hearing-board A continued public hearing challenging Tobyhanna Township's data-center overlay ordinance is listed for October 29 at 5 p.m. at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Pocono Manor. The challenge concerns Ordinance No. 580, which established an overlay district associated with the Pennsylvania Glacial Till proposal. The date appears in a regional event notice and an update from the resident organization pursuing the challenge. Attendees should verify arrangements directly with the township. MonroeCountyPA.com / Protect Rural Tobyhanna Township Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://monroecountypa.com/event/2026/10/tobyhanna-township-zoning-hearing-board https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/gov--shapiro-protects-customers-and-holds-data-center-developers Governor Josh Shapiro filed an October 15 petition seeking to intervene in a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission proceeding concerning how PPL Electric allocates costs and reliability risks associated with large data centers. The petition supports an October 2 complaint from the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate and calls for stronger protections against shifting data-center-related infrastructure costs to existing electricity customers. Pennsylvania Governor's Office / Pennsylvania PUC Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2026-press-releases/gov--shapiro-protects-customers-and-holds-data-center-developers https://www.timesleader.com/news/1762404/fit-energy-to-host-newport-twp-data-center-information-session-on-oct-28 Fit Energy has scheduled an October 28 public information session for its proposed 15-data-center and power-generation campus in Newport Township, Luzerne County. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Greater Nanticoke Area High School in Nanticoke. Residents will be able to review proposed plans and ask questions about infrastructure, site design and environmental considerations. Times Leader / Fit Energy Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.timesleader.com/news/1762404/fit-energy-to-host-newport-twp-data-center-information-session-on-oct-28 https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/1761965/luzerne-county-data-center-zoning-ordinance-heads-to-council-what-changed-in-setbacks-noise-limits Luzerne County's Planning Commission voted October 8 to recommend a revised data-center zoning ordinance to County Council. The proposed regulations reduce previously recommended setbacks and revise noise limits while requiring special-exception review for data-center applications. County Council adoption remains pending, and the ordinance is not yet in effect. Times Leader Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/1761965/luzerne-county-data-center-zoning-ordinance-heads-to-council-what-changed-in-setbacks-noise-limits https://smithfieldtownship.com/odp/gatewaydc/ Smithfield Township scheduled Planning Commission review of the Gateway data-center application for October 21 at 7:00 p.m. and the formal Board of Supervisors conditional-use hearing for October 28 at 6:00 p.m. Both meetings are at J.T. Lambert Intermediate School. Party-status requests will be considered at the October 28 hearing, not the October 21 review. Smithfield Township Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://smithfieldtownship.com/odp/gatewaydc/ https://www.tnonline.com/20261007/data-center-hearing-on-hold/ The October 27 Lower Towamensing curative-amendment hearing was postponed at the applicant’s request. Township officials are considering dates during the week of December 14, but no replacement date, time or venue has been confirmed. Times News Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.tnonline.com/20261007/data-center-hearing-on-hold/ https://www.tnonline.com/20261002/residents-prep-for-data-hearing/ About 100 people attended an October 1 community meeting ahead of Lower Towamensing Township’s October 27 public hearing on a proposed data-center zoning amendment. The gathering was organized by Save Carbon County and was not an official township hearing. The proposal discussed in current reporting involves the Blue Shamrock Golf Course / DTA Alliance property and a potential large data-center campus. Times News Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.tnonline.com/20261002/residents-prep-for-data-hearing/ https://www.witf.org/2026/10/01/pa-house-committee-advances-bills-targeting-data-centers-electricity-costs/ The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced several data-center measures, including proposals addressing when developers must secure electric service, responsibility for grid-related infrastructure costs, and curtailment during power emergencies. HB 2775 would require certain large-load developers to apply for electric service and pay associated fees before seeking zoning approval. HB 2828 addresses infrastructure-cost responsibility and emergency curtailment of data centers. WITF Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.witf.org/2026/10/01/pa-house-committee-advances-bills-targeting-data-centers-electricity-costs/ https://www.puc.pa.gov/press-release/2026/puc-advances-tentative-data-center-curtailment-safeguards/ The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued a tentative order seeking comment on proposed changes intended to prevent large data centers from being automatically treated as protected critical load during electricity emergencies. The PUC is also planning a November 17 technical conference on cost allocation for large electric loads. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.puc.pa.gov/press-release/2026/puc-advances-tentative-data-center-curtailment-safeguards/ https://keystonenewsroom.com/news/data-center-developer-offers-10k-to-luzerne-county-residents-are-they-trying-to-bribe-us/ Recent coverage has brought renewed attention to Project Hazelnut, NorthPoint Development’s proposed 15-building data-center campus on roughly 1,300 acres in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. NorthPoint says its $165 million community-benefit package would include $10,000 grants for eligible township households. Hazle Township previously denied the land-development plan, and the developer’s appeal remains in litigation. The Keystone Newsroom Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://keystonenewsroom.com/news/data-center-developer-offers-10k-to-luzerne-county-residents-are-they-trying-to-bribe-us/ https://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2026/09/pa-farm-bureau-supports-pause-on-ai.html Pennsylvania Farm Bureau released a policy paper arguing for a pause on data-center development to give policymakers and communities time to study the impacts of data centers and their supporting infrastructure, including farmland loss, resources for rural municipalities, and an equitable share of benefits for local communities and ratepayers. This is an advocacy organization’s policy position, not enacted state policy. PA Environment Digest Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com/2026/09/pa-farm-bureau-supports-pause-on-ai.html https://www.timesleader.com/news/1760686/salem-twp-planning-commission-again-recommends-data-center-overlay-expansion Salem Township’s Planning Commission again recommended expanding its Special Data Center Overlay District by more than 4,000 acres for the proposed 4-3 Glenbrook Group project. The matter now moves to the township Board of Supervisors, expected to consider it in October. The Planning Commission recommendation is not final construction approval. Times Leader Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.timesleader.com/news/1760686/salem-twp-planning-commission-again-recommends-data-center-overlay-expansion https://smithfieldtownship.com/odp/gatewaydc/ Smithfield Township’s Gateway project hub now includes a second township-engineer review and a Monroe County Planning Commission courtesy review. The documents raise unresolved questions involving water capacity, grid reinforcement, acoustical-model compliance, screening, lighting and emergency planning. These are technical review comments, not a decision on the pending conditional-use application, and, at the time, no replacement hearing date had been announced. Smithfield Township Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://smithfieldtownship.com/odp/gatewaydc/ https://apnews.com/article/f073380caa61b720fa424590b5bc7c87 The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act 417–3. The bill would require state utility commissions to consider standards intended to make data centers larger than 100 MW cover the incremental electricity-generation and transmission costs needed to serve them. Associated Press Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://apnews.com/article/f073380caa61b720fa424590b5bc7c87 https://www.tnonline.com/20260909/data-center-proposed-in-l-tow/ Property owners filed a curative amendment seeking to allow a data center at the Blue Shamrock Golf Course / DTA Alliance property in Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County. This wider-Poconos proposal is outside the core Pike and Monroe project tracker. Times News Online Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.tnonline.com/20260909/data-center-proposed-in-l-tow/ https://www.noticeregistry.com/pennsylvania/notice/public-hearing-east-stroudsburg-2461015 Smithfield Township postponed the previously advertised September 9 conditional-use hearing for the Gateway data center. A replacement date will be separately advertised; September 23 is a regular Board meeting, not a continuation hearing. NoticeRegistry (public notice) Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.noticeregistry.com/pennsylvania/notice/public-hearing-east-stroudsburg-2461015 https://www.theverge.com/cs/features/975597/loudoun-county-virginia-data-center-backlash Loudoun County’s data-center growth brought major tax benefits—and debate over noise, power lines and development pressure. A look at the tradeoffs after years of expansion. The Verge Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.theverge.com/cs/features/975597/loudoun-county-virginia-data-center-backlash https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08/pennsylvania-data-center-executive-order-shapiro-explainer-environment/ An explainer of Pennsylvania’s new data-center executive order: what it requires of developers, where discretion remains, and what is still unresolved. Spotlight PA Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08/pennsylvania-data-center-executive-order-shapiro-explainer-environment/ https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08/data-center-midterm-legislative-elections-voters-shapiro-garrity-polls/ Data-center development has rapidly become a major Pennsylvania political issue, with candidates across competitive races taking positions on electricity costs, local authority, environmental protections, and the pace of new development. Spotlight PA Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08/data-center-midterm-legislative-elections-voters-shapiro-garrity-polls/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/pennsylvania-governor-signs-order-imposing-new-rules-set-up-ai-data-centers-2026-08-18/ Reuters reports on Gov. Shapiro’s executive order and its intended environmental, community-participation and energy-accountability measures. Reuters Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/pennsylvania-governor-signs-order-imposing-new-rules-set-up-ai-data-centers-2026-08-18/ https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/pike-county-pa-dep-inviting-comments-on-substation-transmission-line-project-BD6104928 DEP’s stormwater-permit review covers the Bushkill Falls–Birchwood Lakes transmission segment through Lehman and Delaware townships, with stream, wetland and land-disturbance concerns. Pike County Courier Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/pike-county-pa-dep-inviting-comments-on-substation-transmission-line-project-BD6104928 https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08/pocono-mountains-data-centers-pennsylvania-environment/ Reporting from the Tobyhanna area explores how proposed data centers could affect forests, waterways and the Poconos’ rural character. Spotlight PA / Inside Climate News Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08/pocono-mountains-data-centers-pennsylvania-environment/ https://monroecountypa.com/news/majority-monroe-county-municipalities-have-data-center-ordinances A countywide look at municipalities adopting or considering data-center ordinances as development proposals move through local planning. Pocono Record / MonroeCountyPA.com Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://monroecountypa.com/news/majority-monroe-county-municipalities-have-data-center-ordinances https://www.timesleader.com/news/1747582/committee-votes-on-sen-browns-statewide-data-center-moratorium-amendment State Sen. Rosemary Brown proposed a three-year statewide moratorium on hyperscale data-center development, arguing that Pennsylvania needs time to address unresolved questions involving energy demand, water use, infrastructure, environmental impacts, and community planning. Times Leader Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.timesleader.com/news/1747582/committee-votes-on-sen-browns-statewide-data-center-moratorium-amendment https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-06-11/bresnahans-proposed-legislation-aims-to-keep-control-local-over-data-center-development-decisions U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan introduced legislation aimed at protecting municipalities that reject data-center proposals from costly federal litigation while also encouraging local workforce commitments when projects are approved. WVIA Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-06-11/bresnahans-proposed-legislation-aims-to-keep-control-local-over-data-center-development-decisions https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/pike-county-commissioners-address-proposed-69kv-transmission-line-JM5842496 Pike County commissioners weighed the need for electrical reliability and future economic development against resident concerns about property impacts, routing, and eminent domain associated with the Shawnee–Walker transmission project. Pike County Courier Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/pike-county-commissioners-address-proposed-69kv-transmission-line-JM5842496 https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/community-gathers-to-discuss-opposition-to-firstenergy-s-shawnee-walker-69kv-transmission-line-project-YJ5803054 Pike County residents gathered in Delaware Township to organize opposition to FirstEnergy’s Shawnee–Walker transmission project, circulate petitions, and raise concerns about property impacts, land clearing, eminent domain, and the project’s necessity. Pike County Courier Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/community-gathers-to-discuss-opposition-to-firstenergy-s-shawnee-walker-69kv-transmission-line-project-YJ5803054 https://pikepa.net/news/possible-data-center-pike A community post raised questions about whether a large DEPG-owned property near Route 739 in Dingman Township could someday be repurposed for data-center development, particularly as new electrical infrastructure is considered nearby. PikePA.net Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://pikepa.net/news/possible-data-center-pike https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/board-of-supervisors-discusses-proposed-firstenergy-transmission-line-project-GA5741329 Dingman Township supervisors heard resident concerns about the Shawnee–Walker project, including possible effects on private property, environmental resources, electricity rates, and questions from residents about whether future industrial or data-center development could benefit from the added capacity. Pike County Courier Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/board-of-supervisors-discusses-proposed-firstenergy-transmission-line-project-GA5741329 https://monroecountypa.com/news/what-we-know-about-smithfield-gateway-data-center-proposal An early look at the Smithfield Gateway data center proposal, including how data-center development became part of the long-planned commercial site and what the initial concept looked like when it reached local review. Pocono Record / MonroeCountyPA.com Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://monroecountypa.com/news/what-we-know-about-smithfield-gateway-data-center-proposal https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-06/data-centers-local-governments-residents-at-odds-with-nepa-projects-despite-promises-of-economic-growth Jobs and tax revenue meet local concerns in the final installment of WVIA’s series on Northeast Pennsylvania’s data-center debate. WVIA Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-06/data-centers-local-governments-residents-at-odds-with-nepa-projects-despite-promises-of-economic-growth https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-05/data-centers-industrys-power-consumption-worries-nepa-residents-concerned-about-property-values-electric-rates Who pays for new power demand? WVIA explores residents’ concerns, utility perspectives and the uncertainty around rates and grid upgrades. WVIA Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-05/data-centers-industrys-power-consumption-worries-nepa-residents-concerned-about-property-values-electric-rates https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-04/data-centers-residents-fear-negative-impacts-on-water-resources-as-data-centers-are-proposed-across-northeast-pa WVIA examines private wells, groundwater and cooling demand. Water use depends on the cooling system and site design; facilities do not all have the same needs. WVIA Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-04/data-centers-residents-fear-negative-impacts-on-water-resources-as-data-centers-are-proposed-across-northeast-pa