PLAINS, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) \u2014 Questions about transparency surrounding a national news segment on data centers have prompted a response from U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
The issue started with a CBS Sunday Morning news report on the growing debate over data center development. The report included opposition to a proposed project in Archbald, Lackawanna County. Some residents criticized the segment for not mentioning that Senator McCormick’s wife, Dina Powell McCormick, works at Meta, a company in the data center industry.<\/p>\n
Opponents of the Archbald project say the omission raised concerns about a conflict of interest. They argue disclosure is necessary as communities think about the impacts of large data facilities.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Senator McCormick said CBS knew about Dina Powell McCormick’s role at Meta.<\/p>\n
Dina Powell McCormick has been President and Vice Chairman of Meta since January 2026. Before that, she worked at Goldman Sachs and was Deputy National Security Advisor during the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
The senator’s office also pushed back on concerns about a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
“Senator McCormick is proud of his wife and all that she has accomplished. As he has from day one, Senator McCormick will continue to comply with all US Senate ethics rules and honorably serve the great citizens of Pennsylvania.”<\/p>\n
During the CBS interview, Senator McCormick talked about the importance of community involvement in data center development decisions. He said local support is essential. He also stressed the need for developers to be transparent about protections, energy use, and economic benefits.<\/p>\n
In an extended interview hosted on YouTube, McCormick explained his belief that communities need to be part of the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s got to be a covenant, a promise that goes from the developer to the community \u2014 covering what kind of job creation will happen, how they’re going to protect the environment, the water supply, the energy costs.”<\/p>\n
“I think that’s going to be absolutely necessary \u2014 the investors in these data centers committing that they’ll ensure no additional burden on the grid or on prices, taking those costs onto themselves. If they’re going to make contributions to the local community in terms of libraries or roads or whatever it is, they need to say that upfront. They need to say how many jobs it’s going to be, because that affects the tax base. It needs to be a very well-informed decision by the community. And if in the end the community sees all those facts and chooses not to proceed, that’s absolutely something that might make sense for them.\u201d<\/p>\n