A pair of developers are working on plans for what they call a “responsible” data center in Northampton County that addresses concerns about environmental impact. But some members of the community remain skeptical.
Peron Development and J.G. Petrucci Company Inc. have confirmed they are developing plans for a data center campus in Lower Mount Bethel Township “designed to respect the township’s rural and agricultural character while strengthening local revenues, safeguarding environmental resources, and generating long‑term community benefits,” according to a release from the companies.
The proposed campus will be located at the intersection of Martins Creek Belvidere Highway and Gravel Hill Road, though parcel details and the precise location were not immediately eleased.
Peron and J.G. Petrucci said they are focusing on a “sustainable model that meets the economy’s growing digital infrastructure needs without altering the quiet nature of the township.”They claim the project will utilize advanced technology that will significantly reduce water usage compared to other large-scale data centers, and cover the cost of electricity capacity and transmission upgrades — including on-site generation — to protect locals from paying increased rates.
Environmental factors have become a particularly hot topic as data center proposals pop up across the commonwealth and the rest of the country. And without upgrades to local infrastructure, the massive amount of energy needed to run a data center could lead to supply issues and rate increases for local residents, opponents worry.
The Lower Mount Bethel project is designed to address that, its developers said.
“As experienced local development leaders here in the Lehigh Valley, we are taking a careful, community-first approach to exploring a potential data center in Lower Mount Bethel thatrespects the township’s rural, agricultural character and reflects residents’ priorities,” said John Callahan, a former Bethlehem mayor and Peron Development director of business development.
“A thoughtfully developed data center project has the potential to generate significant benefits to the township budget, economy, and local schools. We want to make sure any project is as low-impact as possible by minimizing water usage, establishing buffers, and paying our way for energy needs. We look forward to working transparently with township officials and residents every step of the way.”
What are the data center plans?
The announcement from Peron and J.G. Petrucci states the data center campus would include “numerous design elements tailored to ensure a minimal footprint and align with resident priorities.”
Some of these elements include the preservation of the area’s rural character, with promises to screen the buildings with large buffers, natural woodlands, berms, and setbacks to blend into the landscape; low-impact operations which would reduce traffic and noise around the facility, in addition to noise reduction technology; state-of-the-art cooling systems with minimal water use, on-site storage, and stormwater capture, in addition to dark-sky compliance; privately funded power generation and infrastructure upgrades; and conservation and buffer areas to help preserve wildlife and open space.
“The project is being designed so that we, as the developers, will cover the costs of the necessary electricity capacity and transmission upgrades. As part of that approach, we areexploring potential on-site generation as a way to help protect local ratepayers and support system reliability,” Callahan said. “The specific configuration and technology for any on-site generation are still being evaluated. Those details will be part of the formal development plans once engineering work is further along. Any proposal must meet applicable state and federal standards.”
As for the water, Callahan said that final engineering details for the cooling system are still being refined, and “the goal is to rely primarily on highly efficient systems that minimize ongoing water demand.”
“Water usage, sourcing, and environmental impacts will all be addressed as part of the standard permitting and review process, and more specific figures will be available once the engineering plans are finalized,” he said.
Peron and J.G. Petrucci said the data center campus, if approved, would lead to millions of dollars in new annual township and school district tax revenue; hundreds of job opportunities throughout construction and operation; contracting opportunities for local trades and small businesses; and private investment in local infrastructure.
Original plans for the facility were submitted and then withdrawn last month; the developers have stated detailed plans are anticipated to be submitted to Lower Mount Bethel’s planning commission in the coming weeks.
They also established a website, www.lmbtechcenter.com, where they will post updates and opportunities for residents to share feedback, attend informational sessions, and review project materials as they are developed.
Opposition effort growing
Despite the developers’ efforts to address concerns for data centers, locals are still wary of the proposal.
Todd and Heather Rehrig, who live in the township, said they first heard whispers of the project around the start of February, with neighbors passing the news along.
Unsure of what to believe, the Rehrigs went to the township and found that yes, a proposal for a data center had been submitted, and then withdrawn with intention to refile.
“It’s about less than one mile from our house,” Todd Rehrig said, on agriculturally zoned land that borders the Delaware River.
The Rehrigs launched a Change.org petition opposing the plans, which saw about 100 signatures on the first day. By the end of the weekend, that had grown to 1,000 signatures.
“Now it’s been, what? A week and a half now? And we’re almost at 4,500 [signatures] on the petition now,” Todd Rehrig said.
After setting up a website and Facebook page for their group, the Rehrigs started knocking on their neighbors’ doors to raise further support. They met with another couple championing the same cause via direct mail, and the groups united.
According to the Rehrigs, their area is rich with history — they live in a historical home which was recognized by the Historical Society, Todd Rehrig said, and many neighbors work hard to keep their centuries-old homes intact. They fear, along with their neighbors, that a data center complex will ruin the aesthetic of the area.
“We have neighbors who live right next to the property, whose families have been there on that property for 200 years, who might lose everything, who have been crying every night trying to explain to their kids why they have to move and pretty much will lose their whole nest egg and why this is happening, and try to explain them, aren’t there laws to prevent this from happening?” Heather Rehrig said. “So that’s very heartbreaking, especially as a mom, to hear that.”
The group also harbors concerns over water usage — even if the developers have promised to use minimal impact systems, as the area has been known to be affected by drought.
“Our area has been in a drought at times. Our aquifers wouldn’t be able to handle it. This data center would use more water than the entire township uses already,” Todd Rehrig said.
Told about the promises to make the facility sustainable, the Rehrigs are still very skeptical.
“I think to somebody who’s not as informed, it sounds promising, and this could be why our supervisors were willing to entertain this in the beginning,” Todd Rehrig said, with the couple saying the lack of transparency on details is concerning.
The Rehrigs hope township supervisors will announce a town hall meeting on the data center plan during the next board meeting on Monday.
For now, they say they will continue to post about the project for the community’s benefit, with the hope to get more detailed information in the near future.
The developers said they will work to address commujnity concerns.
“We recognize that projects of this scale require ongoing communication with township leadership and residents,” Callahan said. “We anticipate continued engagement with local officials and the community throughout construction and operations, so we are aligned with residents’ priorities.”
Brian Myszkowski is a freelance writer.