Tensions boil at Lackawanna Co. Commissioners meeting over Data Center Health Impacts

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — The topic of discussion at Wednesday’s Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners meeting, from both residents and commissioners, focused on a $165,000 proposal to study the potential health impacts of proposed data centers and which firm should conduct the study.

It was a packed house of Lackawanna County residents at Wednesday’s board of commissioners meeting, with frustrations from both residents and commissioners over whether the county will assess the health impacts of proposed data centers, including the controversial Wildcat Ridge in Archibald Township.

“We are bearing this burden, so when I ask you today to do a health impact assessment, it is because there is nothing more important than understanding what this is going to do to our health,” Tamra Misewicz-Healey, Lackawanna Co. Resident, said.

“We need to rely on each other, and we need to vet someone to do this health impact study immediately,” Aline Browning, Dunmore Resident, said.

Commissioner Bill Gaughan has been one of the most outspoken critics of proposed data centers. He has emphasized the need to examine these health impacts, citing a $165,000 proposal from Dr. Michael Cork and EmPower Analytics Group and urging his fellow commissioners that time is of the essence.

“We don’t have any time, there is no time, and I’m saying this with all due respect, the time to do this is now,” Gaughan said.

While plenty of residents in the room agree that the proposal by Cork and EmPower is the best path forward, Commissioners Chris Chermak and Thom Welby feel there should be other options to choose from rather than rushing the process and going with EmPower as a result

“With all of the data center issues that are happening all across our country, there have to be companies that are working with communities across the country that have done these studies and done them well,” Welby said.

The frustrations from residents eventually boiled over into commissioners’ comments, forcing the meeting to be adjourned and no action on the matter was taken.