Hearings set as PUC considers request to provide water service to Hazleton area data centers

HAZLETON – As regulators consider CAN DO’s request to provide 30,000 gallons of water per day to the embattled Project Hazelnut data center, two telephonic hearings have been scheduled.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will hear public input on the request on July 7.

One hearing will take place at 1pm and the second will be at 6pm.

CAN DO is seeking approval to expand its water division’s service territory to include Northpoint Development’s lands north of the Humboldt Industrial Park, where they are planning to build the Project Hazelnut data center campus. Hazle Township denied Northpoint’s application, prompting an appeal and an ongoing court case.

According to filings with the PUC, they are requesting up to 30,000 gallons per day of potable water for domestic use. That water will not be used for data center cooling. Filings note that the Greater Hazleton Joint Sewer Authority will provide 350,000 gallons of recycled water per day for cooling.

CAN DO provides water service to numerous plants and businesses in the Humboldt Industrial Park. According to the PUC, they are also seeking to abandon a portion of their service area in East Union Township which CAN DO says is served by other water utilities.

PUC Administrative Law Judges Steven K. Haas and Emily A. Farren will preside over the upcoming hearings.

To participate in the hearing, call 888-387-8560 and enter PIN number 69874953

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home. She is a 12-time Keystone Media Award winner, a PAB Excellence in Broadcasting award winner, and has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy award.

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