Coming to some of Pennsylvania’s most picturesque places: data centers (opens in a new tab)
Reporting from the Tobyhanna area explores how proposed data centers could affect forests, waterways and the Poconos’ rural character.
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Curated coverage of data centers, transmission projects, zoning decisions and community response across the Poconos.
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Three perspectives on what’s changing close to home.
Pike County, PA DEP inviting comments on substation transmission line project (opens in a new tab)
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.
What we know about Smithfield Gateway data center proposal (opens in a new tab)
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.
Plans have changed since this article was published. Its earlier two-building concept was superseded by the August 2026 revision: one two-story building, approximately 500,000 sq. ft. total, a 250,000 sq. ft. footprint and proposed 250 MW load. See the current project record below.
ON THE CALENDAR
Meetings & deadlines
As reported September 5, 2026. Check the source before making plans.
DEP comment deadline
Bushkill Falls–Birchwood Lakes transmission segment
Courier permit coverage ↗ (opens in a new tab)Smithfield Gateway hearing
6:00 PM · J.T. Lambert Intermediate School
Township notice ↗ (opens in a new tab)Possible continuation
Reserved date for the Smithfield conditional-use hearing
Township notice ↗ (opens in a new tab)THE FULL FEED
Follow what matters to you.
Browse all 17 selected articles. Original reporting opens on the publisher’s site in a new tab.
17 articles · Newest first
Is this the future of America? (opens in a new tab)
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.
Outside case study: Loudoun County, Virginia. This is context for the Poconos, not a local project report.
What Shapiro’s new data center order does — and doesn’t — force developers to do (opens in a new tab)
An explainer of Pennsylvania’s new data-center executive order: what it requires of developers, where discretion remains, and what is still unresolved.
Data centers are ‘redefining’ midterm races across Pennsylvania (opens in a new tab)
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.
Pennsylvania governor signs order imposing new rules to set up AI data centers in state (opens in a new tab)
Reuters reports on Gov. Shapiro’s executive order and its intended environmental, community-participation and energy-accountability measures.
Pike County, PA DEP inviting comments on substation transmission line project (opens in a new tab)
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.
Coming to some of Pennsylvania’s most picturesque places: data centers (opens in a new tab)
Reporting from the Tobyhanna area explores how proposed data centers could affect forests, waterways and the Poconos’ rural character.
Majority of Monroe County municipalities have data center ordinances (opens in a new tab)
A countywide look at municipalities adopting or considering data-center ordinances as development proposals move through local planning.
Committee votes on Sen. Brown’s statewide data center moratorium amendment (opens in a new tab)
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.
The proposed three-year moratorium amendment failed 2–9 in committee, according to this report. It did not become a statewide moratorium.
Bresnahan’s proposed legislation aims to keep control local over data center development decisions (opens in a new tab)
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.
Proposed federal legislation; this is not a statement that these protections are already law.
Pike County Commissioners address proposed 69kV transmission line (opens in a new tab)
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.
FirstEnergy’s Shawnee-Walker 69kV transmission-line project (opens in a new tab)
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.
This is reporting on community opposition. Claims by organizers are attributed to them, not independently verified here.
Possible Data Center in Pike? (opens in a new tab)
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.
Community report · Unverified. This post republishes Facebook speculation. No public application, announced operator or confirmed data-center plan was identified in the sources reviewed for this property.
Board of Supervisors discusses proposed FirstEnergy transmission line project (opens in a new tab)
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.
Residents’ speculation about future warehouses or AI facilities is not evidence that Shawnee–Walker was designed specifically for data centers.
What we know about Smithfield Gateway data center proposal (opens in a new tab)
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.
Plans have changed since this article was published. Its earlier two-building concept was superseded by the August 2026 revision: one two-story building, approximately 500,000 sq. ft. total, a 250,000 sq. ft. footprint and proposed 250 MW load. See the current project record below.
DATA CENTERS: Local governments, residents at odds with NEPA projects despite promises of economic growth (opens in a new tab)
Jobs and tax revenue meet local concerns in the final installment of WVIA’s series on Northeast Pennsylvania’s data-center debate.
DATA CENTERS: Industry’s power consumption worries NEPA residents concerned about property values, electric rates (opens in a new tab)
Who pays for new power demand? WVIA explores residents’ concerns, utility perspectives and the uncertainty around rates and grid upgrades.
DATA CENTERS: Residents fear negative impacts on water resources as data centers are proposed across Northeast Pa. (opens in a new tab)
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.
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Our summaries provide context; the original reporting belongs to its publishers. Community reports are labeled separately. MonroeCountyPA.com is independent media, not a county government website. For current proposal details, consult our sourced project tracker →
THE WVIA SERIES
Data Centers: Deal or Dilemma?
Three connected stories. Start with the water, follow the power, then hear from the communities weighing the tradeoffs.
Water
Water (opens in a new tab)
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.
Read part 1 (opens in a new tab)Electric Grid
Electric Grid (opens in a new tab)
Who pays for new power demand? WVIA explores residents’ concerns, utility perspectives and the uncertainty around rates and grid upgrades.
Read part 2 (opens in a new tab)Local Response
Local Response (opens in a new tab)
Jobs and tax revenue meet local concerns in the final installment of WVIA’s series on Northeast Pennsylvania’s data-center debate.
Read part 3 (opens in a new tab)LESSONS FROM ELSEWHERE
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Is this the future
of America?
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.
Read the feature at The Verge (opens in a new tab)KEEP THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED
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