Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti this week said if a company wants to call Lackawanna County home, residents should see the benefit, not just the corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley.

“Data centers should be built on brownfields and former industrial sites, not areas that could be used for housing, schools, or parks,” Cognetti said.

Cognetti’s administration has taken proactive steps to regulate any potential data center development within city limits.

Last week, Scranton City Council introduced proposed amendments to Scranton’s zoning ordinance that would define data centers, set stringent regulations for them, and change the zoning map to establish an overlay district called a “Technology and Energy Overlay.”

To date, the Cognetti administration has not received any indication that data center development within city limits is being sought.

Cognetti is also aware of the number of proposed data centers throughout the 8th Congressional District, noting that she is the Democratic nominee for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township.

“There are dozens of data center proposals across Lackawanna County,” Cognetti said.

Cognetti said she has been attending meetings and talking to folks across the community about these proposals, and she wanted to take a moment to share how she’s thinking about the issue.

“This technology is moving fast, but our responsibility to our neighbors has to move faster,” Cognetti said. “We shouldn’t be afraid of innovation, but we must be firm on the ‘how.’”

Bresnahan campaign statement

Chris Pack, spokesperson for the Bresnahan campaign, issued the following statement when asked for Bresnahan’s position on data centers:

“Unlike Mayor Cognetti, who has flip-flopped her position on data centers multiple times in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding with labor unions, Rob Bresnahan has been consistent that if data centers are built, those decisions should be made by local elected officials, and local labor must be used on those projects. That’s why local union organizations like LIUNA and IBEW are supporting Rob over Mayor Cognetti.”

Cognetti’s ‘non-negotiables’

Cognetti said, for her, “doing it right” means a few non-negotiables:

• Local union labor: These projects must be built by the men and women who live right here in our community.

• Paying their own way: Big tech companies shouldn’t get a free ride on our infrastructure. They need to provide their own water and electrical resources — not strain yours.

• Everyone at the table: We need the tech companies, local leaders, and labor unions in the same room. No “shrouded in secrecy” deals.

“This isn’t just about technology — it’s about our water, our utility bills, and our community,” Cognetti said. “My job is to make sure we aren’t just reacting to growth, but shaping it to work for us. That’s how I’m thinking about data centers. I’ll keep showing up to these meetings, advocating for our communities, and keep everyone posted on what I hear.”

Amendments to address data center development

Cognetti said that by taking these proactive steps, the city will be in the driver’s seat on the rules that the potential data center developers must follow. The administration is grateful for the City Council’s support on this important issue, and Scranton’s government will continue to work together to craft comprehensive regulations that ensure that the health and well-being of our residents and neighborhoods remain a top priority.

“Our Administration has proudly encouraged business development in Scranton and welcomes investment that makes our community stronger, safer, and better,” Cognetti said. “But Northeastern Pennsylvanians are a proud people with a long history of being taken advantage of by big companies. For generations, we’ve heard big promises, been let down, and been left to pick up the pieces.”

Cognetti said she has attended meetings on data centers, and her city team has been researching them and gathering information since last year.

“I hear people’s concerns in the grocery check out, at sports events with my kids, and when I attend public meetings,” Cognetti said. “And what I’ve heard and what I personally believe is clear — if you want to build here, you have to be honest, respect, and listen to our communities, and any development in the city has to benefit Scranton families. You have to use union labor based here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, foot your own power bill, and not uproot our neighborhoods and quality of life. Under no circumstance can you pass the cost onto the nurses, teachers, small business owners, and laborers who are already struggling with rising prices.”

“We’ve fought back against greedy utility companies looking to jack up electricity, water, and gas bills, and I’ll fight just as hard against any data center builder who tries to shift the cost onto working families. We should focus on areas like brownfields and former industrial sites that cannot be built for housing or schools or recreation, and we need to make sure the process is transparent and gives residents time to weigh in. We also have to make sure any new development would not exacerbate stormwater issues or negate the progress we’ve made protecting our neighborhoods from extreme weather and stormwater runoff.”

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.