DICKSON CITY — More than 100 residents gathered at the Dickson City Civic Center on Thursday night for a public hearing to voice concerns regarding proposed data center developments. Many attendees urged the borough council to implement a moratorium on such projects to allow for further study; however, Mayor Robert MacCallum explained that Pennsylvania law does not currently grant municipalities the authority to enact such pauses. Following the public comment period, the council unanimously passed an ordinance that restricts data centers to manufacturing-heavy zones. The new regulations establish a 60-foot height limit, require specific beautification efforts, and set strict noise level restrictions to mitigate the impact on the surrounding community. While residents expressed fears over the high energy and water demands of these facilities, borough officials emphasized that the ordinance provides the most robust local "guardrails" allowed under state law.
