If you thought warehouses were a plague on the landscape, give your township a call and ask what the plan is for data centers. Because they’re on their way.
Right now, Tobyhanna Township is considering changes to their zoning ordinance to allow data centers, and a property owner in the headwaters of the Swiftwater Creek hopes to attract one.
That’s a big deal. Not because it means good jobs — it doesn’t.
Except for upfront construction jobs, data centers need very few employees.
It’s a big deal because a large data center can use 5,000,000 gallons of water a day.
You read that right: five million gallons a day.
Data centers need to keep all those hyper energy-hog computers cool.
To do that, they use water, which evaporates away into the atmosphere and is lost to us.
Whether the water for cooling is pumped directly out of the ground on-site or comes from Brodhead Creek Regional Authority, evaporating it depletes our watershed.
So the big question is: what are they doing to conserve water? Specifically, will they use a closed-loop cooling system?
Zero-water or closed-loop systems can drastically reduce or eliminate evaporation.
Once the system is filled with water, it continually moves that water between the hot equipment and air chillers that suck out accumulated heat — without continually pulling in more fresh water.
Big data centers also consume 200 to 500 acres of land.
You may not really care much about the loss of forested land, natural habitat, bears, deer, fish, and bird life.
But the risk to safe, abundant drinking water should make everyone sit up and take notice.
Water is essential to life. And it belongs to all of us.
Sept. 15 Tobyhanna Hearing
Tobyhanna Township Supervisors are amending their zoning ordinance to provide for data centers, and the hearing is on September 15, 2025.
What’s happening in your Township or Borough?
Better find out.
Do Data Centers Drive Up Electricity Prices?
The short answer is yes. The largest outfits use more than 7 million kWh a month.
Markets for electricity are regional and local.
A new consumer drawing such colossal amounts of kilowatts for cooling and computing can skyrocket local electric prices.
Data centers may benefit anyone who uses computing power. But most of the benefit goes to some of the richest corporations in the world-- while the rest of us cover the cost.
What Kind of Corporations Own Data Centers?
Artificial Intelligence uses specialized data centers to handle its intense workloads.
Cryptocurrency operations use immense computing power for mining, growth, and security.
E-Commerce, social media, and Cloud services are big users, too.
Click Here for more information on A.I. data center water, energy consumption.
Visit Brodhead’s Water At Risk Series webpage for more articles.
For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Brodhead Watershed Association website or Follow them on Facebook. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Association. Click Here to become a member.
Related Article:
-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Electric Bills Increased 10-20% Since June - Community Solar Could Be A Solution - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association [PaEN]
Resource Links - Data Centers:
-- Senate Hearing: Susquehanna River Basin Commission - A.I. Data Centers Have A Dramatic Demand For Water, And The Potential To Be Among The Largest Water Consumers In The Basin [8.13.25]
-- Senate Hearing: To Communities Facing Rapid A.I. Data Center Development: Review Your Zoning Ordinance NOW, Before It's Too Late To Have Meaningful Siting, Mitigation Conversations [8.12.25]
-- Senate Hearing: DEP Primer: Recurring Challenges Of A.I. Data Centers: Frequent Site Plan Changes, Inconsistent Zoning, Outdated Sewage Facilities, Limited Community Outreach [8.12.25]
-- PJM Electricity Auction: PJM Lost 2.8 Gigawatts Of Power Due To Reduced Reliability Rating Of Natural Gas Power Plants; Could Gain 12.2 Gigawatts By Increasing Reliability From Less Than 75% Now To An Achievable 90% [7.31.25]
-- PJM Electric Auction Impacts: 1 In 5 PA Households Report Problems Now Paying Energy Bills; Electric Utility Shutoffs Up 38.1% So Far This Year [7.30.25]
-- PUC: Brace For Higher Electric Bills As A Result Of Soaring Power Use; Consumers Should Review Energy Options [7.25.25]
-- Guest Essay: Rewriting The Energy Story — Together - By Stephen M. DeFrank, Chairman, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission [7.23.25]
-- What The A.I. Data Center & Energy Summit Missed: Exploding Electricity Demand Already Raising Prices - Ratepayers Need Protection; No Longer An ‘All Of The Above’ Energy Strategy [7.22.25]
-- What The A.I. Data Center & Energy Summit Missed: It’s Deja Vu - False Promises, Dirty Power - Our People And Communities Deserve Respect [7.22.25]
[Posted: September 1, 2025] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment