Humans are famous for their unrelenting and unavoidable actions on the environment, thereby forever changing what once was. Historically, many actions have simply been a kind of the autonomic part of the story of human survival. But more recently, human actions have been less about survival and more about the ceaseless drive to accumulate wealth and power. Nonetheless, in every case and for whatever motive, there are unavoidable consequences to our every action. 

In recent centuries in PA, retired coal mines and the remains of abandoned oil and gas wells have continued to radically blight our existing physical environment. Those undesirable environmental scars are the receipts of former industrial activity. 

Precisely because no actions are free or without consequence, in any deliberation or significant plan to “develop” our lands, there should always be included a comprehensive consideration of the environmental impact of such plans. 

Which brings us to data centers.

But I want freedom

For years, in the name of freedom and nearly without exception, right-wing ideologues have ranted against proposed zoning regulations at township meetings that I have attended. For example, the “government is not going to tell me what I can do” crowd has always scoffed at “safety rules,” then gone silent when unhappy events like faulty noncoded electrical wiring caused a fire, or something even worse happened. Now, it seems “even worse” is in our midst. 

The golems are among us

Partly because PA townships seem rather “light” on development rules (thanks, freedom-lovers), data centers projects, led by flanks of lawyers seem to be flocking to our vulnerable lands.

Apparently, juggernaut private companies would like the “freedom” to generate the vast power they need to then generate the necessary computer artificial intelligence which will consequently realize the apparently vast profits available for such activity. 

Prospectively, all of this “development” will leave those living on “Wall Street” happily humming, but likely leave those of us living on “Main Street” more thirsty, sleepless and living out our resident lives in a likely unrecognizable environmental wasteland.

The politicians are mostly for it

Remarkably, I can hardly find fellow local Pennsylvania residents who agree that this data center “development” is something that they want. Politically right or left, opposition to this idea is quite popular—except among many of our elected representatives. I hear mention of promised construction jobs and revenue potentially going to local communities. 

While those are promises still to keep (and in the past, notoriously unkept), what is unquestionable is the unavoidable environmental devastation that will be caused by a data center’s depletion of groundwater and that water’s consequent reduction to an unrecyclable state, the vast loss of forest canopy, an incessant excessive noise production in any affected community, noxious air pollution, extreme power demands (raising household customers rates), and road and infrastructure demands and issues.

Politicians of all stripes may see what appears an easy win by hitching their wagons to what they think is an irresistible data center development force. But citizens should beware the opportunists who are “fast-tracking” these unpopular developments and even offering tax breaks to these ill-advised efforts, thus potentially changing the very character of the commonwealth in which we all live. 

In our economically bifurcated society composed of a tiny and fabulously wealthy minority and a large majority of those of us just getting by, the data center construction movement is yet another nefarious scheme aiming to further increase income inequality, but potentially with the notable added feature of permanently blighting the living conditions of many who already economically struggle. 

So what?

Citizens of all political persuasions should oppose these massive data center profit scheme efforts. Likely they have been designed to help make possible the artificial intelligence (robots?) means by which even the data center, itself, will ultimately self-function and limit or even eliminate human involvement. 

Meanwhile as a byproduct, our very human living conditions will necessarily be despoiled. Now is the time to register your opposition before our green township hills resemble massive factory towns. Please call your representatives and attend your local township meetings. Raise your voice!

John Pace lives in Honesdale, PA.