Data Centers
DC's actually employ very few people except in the initial build out. After that ya sure the sparky and the HVAC guy have to show up once in a while but labor intensive it is not. Even the onsite is usually a couple of security guards and a junior guy to do remote hands. As far as designing them, they're tilt ups with a bit more cooling and electrical and now they're cookie cutter. Chip fab, I have no idea but I'm guessing it's fairly automated at least at production.
Citation: https://thecanadian.social/@mike/115934560966129765
My Take
- That data centers are increasingly essential infrastructure, but they are still disruptive infrastructure.
- They are not normal office, retail or even industrial sites or employers. What it's like inside the data centers powering the AI boom
- They have demand for power, cooling, generator, security, water, and emergency-service needs.
- Are managed remotely they leave very few long-term local jobs after construction
- Any proposal for a local data centershould have to meet serious, objective standards for setbacks, screening, noise levels, generator testing, emergency response, proof of power capacity, water management.
- Townships should make data center operators provide plans for decommissioning or adaptive reuse, that way we if demand drops we are not left with buildings, burdens, and very little local benefit.
Supporting Documents
- The Future of America is a Dead Data Center - by Max Murphy - Max Murphy opines here on liminal spaces and compares future data centers to our current dead malls.
- Data centers see pushback across the country - Axios reported in 2024 that data centers were drawing rising community and political pushback and cited examples of local restrictions.
- Data center funding with shell companies
Resources
- Data Center Model Ordinance by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future.
- Data Center Ordinance Guide | Montgomery County, PA - Montgomery County Planning Commission has partnered with the Chester County Planning Commission to produce a new extensive guide and resource for municipalities.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Lawmakers left in place an increasingly unpopular sales tax exemption for data centers that is projected to cost the state $2 billion in tax revenue by mid-2031, and passed no other bills that would regulate the burgeoning industry. Lawmakers up transparency for data centers, leave $2B tax exemption untouched in Pa. budget by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA | July 20, 2026
- Pennsylvania | Data Center Proposal Tracker
- Pa.’s data center boom, tracked and mapped - pennlive.com
- Data centers bring money to small towns. But do they also bring jobs? : NPR
- PA added just one regulation for data centers in budget • Spotlight PA
Local Municipalities
- Jefferson County Commissioners: Boroughs, townships should 'act immediately' regarding data centers | News | thecourierexpress.com
- Muncy Township Solicitor working on legal challenge to data center tactic - Williamsport Sun-Gazette
- Granville rejects data center application - The Sentinel
- Commissioners set ordinance hearing data - The Sentinel
Lansdale
Lower Salford
- Resident tells board data centers are "disruptive infrastructure," urges strict standards and decommissioning plans | Citizen Portal (it's me)
- Ord 2026-07 Carlson Comment.pdf1
Towamencin
Plymouth Township
Whitemarsh
Bad Behavior
- A data center drained 30M gallons of water unnoticed — until residents complained about low water pressure - POLITICO
- Amazon secretly circumvents community vote for massive AI data center using 45-year-old rules — Gilroy residents locked out of public comment window | Tom's Hardware
- Amazon Data Centers In Mississippi Have Already Raised Electricity Rates for Local Customers, Report Suggests
Senator Pennycuick Flip-Flops
Footnotes
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