Montour County Commissioners Vote To Reject Talen Energy's Request To Rezone 800 Acres Of Agricultural Land For Industrial A.I. Data Centers

On February 10, Montour County Commissioners voted to reject Talen Energy’s request to rezone more than 800 acres of agricultural land to industrial in order to make way for data centers. 

If approved, the request would have also allowed for expansion of Talen’s existing fracked gas power plant.

With the move, Montour joins a growing number of communities standing up against data center development.

According to FracTracker Alliance, developers have submitted proposals for 23 hyper-scale data centers in Pennsylvania.

In response to the vote, Food & Water Watch Eastern Pennsylvania Senior Organizer Ginny Marcille-Kerslake issued the following statement:

“There is a reason why communities are pushing back on data centers, with residents showing up and speaking out in unprecedented numbers, filling township meeting rooms in united opposition-- these dirty operations are a taking of our resources so Big Tech and Big Oil can profit. 

“The Montour County decision shows why local control over the siting of data centers and power generating facilities matters.

“Data centers and associated polluting fossil fueled energy threatens to increase electricity bills even higher, lower our quality of life, destroy farmland, and have untold consequences for the environment. Montour is proof that our elected officials can protect us when people like the governor are unwilling to.”

In October, Food & Water Watch became the first national group to call for a data center moratorium.

Over 250+ organizations have since joined the call-- including 17 from Pennsylvania.

NewsClips:

-- WNEP: Montour County Commissioners Won’t Rezone For Talen Energy Data Center

-- The News-Item: Montour County Commissioners Unanimously Deny Talen Energy’s Rezoning For Data Center

-- WFMZ: Montour County Commissioners Deny Rezoning Request For Talen Energy Data Center

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA County Denies Rezoning Plan To Allow Data Center

-- Reuters: Montour County Denys Rezoning Request For Talen Energy Data Center Development

Related Articles This Week:

-- Montour County Commissioners Vote To Reject Talen Energy's Request To Rezone 800 Acres Of Agricultural Land For Industrial A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves Limerick Nuclear Power Plant Digital Modernization Plan For Safety, Diagnostic Systems; Data Center Proposed Next Door  [PaEN]

-- Guest Comments: How Is PA General Energy Allowed To Destroy Natural Forest Values To Which I Am Entitled To Enjoy With Its Shale Gas Well Pad And Access Road Project In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County? - By Cynthia Bower, Resident  [PaEN] 

-- Guest Comments: PA General Energy Shale Gas Road, Well Pads Project Would Close Access To State Forest Land, Threaten Already Threatened Forest Bird Species In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County -- By Bruce Buckle, President, Lycoming Audubon Society  [PaEN]  

-- Williamsport Sun: Public Testifies Against PA General Energy Project Industrializing Loyalsock State Forest They Cherish; Natural Gas Industry Highlights Jobs, Economic Development [PDF of Article] 

-- 12th Annual Pennsylvania Renewables Summit Set For March 16-17 In Harrisburg Area  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Reuters: Montour County Denys Rezoning Request For Talen Energy Data Center Development

-- The Center Square: Shapiro’s Power Plans Draw Mixed Reactions

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Why Gov. Shapiro Wants To Scrutinize Electric, Gas Utility Profits 

-- Scranton Times: Archbald (Wednesday), Dickson City (Thursday) Hearings This Week Focus On Data Center Proposals ​​ [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Appeals Jessup Boro Denial Of Breaker Street Data Center Proposal To Lackawanna County Court [PDF of Article] 

-- The Citizens Voice: Proposed Hollenback Twp. Zoning Ordinance Allows For A.I. Data Centers With Conditions In Luzerne County [PDF of Article]

-- WJAC: Homer City’s Natural Gas Power Plant, Data Center Reboot In Indiana County - Part I 

-- WJAC: Activists Challenge Air Permit For Homer City 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant For Data Center - Part II  

-- Observer-Reporter: South Strabane Twp. Shares Draft Ordinance For A.I. Data Centers In Washington County   [PDF of Article]

-- WHYY: How Much Water Do Data Centers Use? This One In Delaware City Could Use 10 to 20 Million Gallons A Year

-- Erie Times: Proposal For Underwater Electric Transmission Line From Canada To Erie County Seeking Government Approvals 

-- Utility Dive: New Jersey Board Of Public Utilities Launches Virtual Power Plant Initiative With Distributed Energy Resources 

-- E&ENews/Politico: US Natural Gas Exporters Brace For Global Glut

[Posted: February 11, 2026]  PA Environment Digest