PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Residents and anti-data center activists in Upper Merion celebrated a win Thursday night, after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to reject all five data center proposals for the township.
The decision was the culmination of months of contention over the data centers, as scores of residents have attended meetings to voice their concerns about the project’s impacts on their environment, energy grid and quality of life.
MLP Ventures CEO Brian O’Neill, the developer behind the proposals, has argued that the project would comply with government regulations and provide major economic benefits to the area, bringing in $55.4 million in tax revenue annually and supporting 15,000 jobs, according to NBC10.
The five proposed locations would also take up about 4.6 million square feet in total, surpassing Philadelphia International Airport’s approximately 3.6 million square feet.
That a vote would even take place Thursday was a dubious prospect going into the meeting, after a judge issued a temporary injunction Wednesday, August 12, blocking the Upper Merion Planning Commission from deliberating on the proposed data centers that evening.
That decision was spurred by a last-minute lawsuit filed by O’Neill, demanding an extension on his land development application to address concerns from residents.
However, a Court of Common Pleas judge ultimately sided with the township, overturning that injunction Thursday.
O’Neill clashed with the board at Thursday night’s meeting on whether he could address residents’ issues with his applications, asking to go through all comments one-by-one. The board solicitor shot down his pleas, and the board shot down his request for an extension.
Cheers rang out in the hall as the board announced the results of their vote on the five data center proposals: 5-0 against.
Residents like Courtney Smith, with Upper Merion Against Data Centers, were thrilled by the decision.
“It’s been really inspiring,” she said. “It has changed my own personal outlook on what this community really is. What we’ve done here tonight is nothing short of amazing.”
Smith and other residents still expect O’Neill to appeal the decision.
“[I have] cautious optimism. I think we all know this is far from over, but it’s a really rewarding feeling.”
Residents celebrated after months of contention and organized opposition to data centers they say would negatively impact life in the township.
Residents celebrated after months of contention and organized opposition to data centers they say would negatively impact life in the township.
