East Deer commissioners are moving ahead with developing an ordinance that would regulate data centers in the township.
The commissioners voted to advertise the proposed ordinance, the first step toward enacting regulations.
Data centers are facilities used to store digital information and house the enormous computing power necessary for the development of technology, including artificial intelligence.
They have become a flash point for controversy in local communities, including Springdale, and others across the country because of their use of resources, such as large amounts of electricity and water, and their potential effect on quality of life, especially for those living nearby.
The proposed ordinance would set limits on the height of buildings and would require assurances regarding consumption of electricity to power servers and water to cool them.
“This is basically a curative amendment for our zoning board,” said commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani, referring to the fact that no such regulation currently exists.
Commissioner Jake Gigler suggested enacting an ordinance focused on data centers at the May commissioners meeting.
While room for development in East Deer is limited, Gigler said, there are some locations in the township’s industrialized area along the Allegheny River, that might appeal to data center developers.
The proposed ordinance’s restrictions and requirements include:
• Data center development would be confined to conditional use in C-2 zoning districts.
• The maximum height for the main building and accessory buildings is 60 feet, and the buildings must be set back at least 200 feet from the property line of residential districts or “sensitive receptors” such as schools, daycare centers, community centers, retirement homes, places of worship and parks.
• The installation of landscape buffers that are at least 25 feet wide and include evergreen, deciduous or ornamental trees and shrubbery.
• Limitation on noise and vibration emanating from data center operations, including power generation, at 67 decibels during regular operating hours — 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday — and at 57 decibels from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weeknights and all day on weekends.
• Documentation from public water authorities that they will supply water to the centers. If non-public water sources are used, the developer must provide a water study to determine if the supply of water is adequate and estimate the impact of the water use on existing wells, groundwater and surface water sources in the vicinity. Approval will be denied if the supply of water is deemed to be inadequate and/or if the water withdrawal and discharge adversely affects the ground and surface water supply in the vicinity.
• Impacts on electric rates or availability for other uses attributable to the data centers will be set forth in the development agreement, and any costs to residential customers in the township will be paid by the data center owner.
Solicitor Craig Alexander said the proposed ordinance must be reviewed by the township planning commission and the Allegheny County Planning Department which must provide its comments and suggestions within 45 days of the advertisement.
But whether such comments have any impact on the ordinance will be up to the township commissioners.
“The (township) planning commission is a recommending body, and the county is a recommending body,” Alexander told the commissioners. “You don’t have to take their recommendations.”