West Mahanoy opposes New Castle data center development

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS – West Mahanoy Township has drafted a letter to oppose a rumored data center in New Castle Township, just outside Frackville.

Supervisors were asked at the September meeting by concerned Frackville-area residents, mostly from the Walnick Manor section of Butler Township, to oppose the plan.

It would be constructed on land owned by Mt. Laurel Enterprises. Daniel R. Blaschak is listed as the president of the company according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The proposal is on an 89 acre parcel of land wedged between the Walnick Manor section of Butler Township to the north, Interstate 81 to the south, a PPL Electric Utilities high voltage pole line to the west and the Schuylkill Technology Center North Campus property to the east.

KRNL Data Centers, of New York, Ryan Twardzik told supervisors earlier this month, is the proposed buyer and developer of the property. It would include several buildings and an additional substation.

West Mahanoy Township Supervisors Chairman Paul “Pepper” Martin and Vice-Chairman Michael “Mickey” Kayes signed a letter dated Thursday to send to New Castle Township Supervisors in opposition of the proposal.

Any formal proposal must go through New Castle Township, through either zoning, planning, or the supervisors themselves.

“Township supervisors listened to their concerns,” the supervisors wrote referring to the residents speaking at the September meeting, “and at this time, want to go on record opposing any kind of proposed Data Center in your township.”

“Our main concerns consist of the massive amount of electricity and water these buildings use might drain these resources for our township residents in the vicinity, noise pollution of fans running 24/7 resulting in the natural buffer of noise from Interstate 81 destroyed, and traffic issues that will affect our residents living in the vicinity of Vo-Tech Road during the construction of the Data Center, and light pollution caused by clearing of the trees in their natural habitat,” supervisors wrote.

Frackville Borough already plans to oppose the development.

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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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