Posted on 09/28/2026 4:39:13 PM PDT by Libloather
A big developer that’s desperate to build a data center near a Pennsylvania town has reportedly offered to pay every family there $10,000 – but most are still pushing back, part of a nationwide trend of opposition to such sites.
While seeking approvals for a data center project in the Pocono foothills, Northpoint Development sent letters to the 10,460 residents of nearby Hazle Township this summer, offering to write a check to each household to spend on “whatever you want.”
Totaling $45 million, the payouts would be a substantial boost for many residents of the town, where the average household income is $60,000. They could use it to cover six months of rent in a two-bedroom apartment or fund their groceries or gas for many months longer, according to the Wall Street Journal.
But many of the Pennsylvanians are rejecting the payments, skeptical the developer is trying to bribe them into signing off on a data center that could cause noise and light pollution, or simply help the acceleration of AI, which they fear could eradicate broad swaths of jobs.
Jeff Fasnacht, a retired teacher who lives near the planned location of the new data center, shared the same concern as many other residents around the country protesting data center buildouts – a new form of NIMBYism.
“$10,000 doesn’t match how much it’s going to tank my property value,” Fasnacht told the Wall Street Journal, while enjoying a Scotch and a cigar after a round of golf.
Ed Negra, a retired homeowner, added that the developer’s offer might end up backfiring since it could prompt residents to probe the potential downsides of the data center.
“I think it works the opposite way, because most people have the opinion that, ‘Hey, are they trying to bribe us here?’” he was quoted...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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Did they include AI data centers, which are several times larger than typical data centers?
Politicians: Whoa, whoa there. WE are the only ones getting the big bribes. Don’t start throwing money around. We run this country, not the little nobodies.
WHEN CITIZENS CAN NO LONGER LIVE IN THEIR PROPERTIES DUE TO LACK OF WATER-—THERE WILL NO NO “SPLIT”.
ALL OUR PRIVATE WELLS ON AN AQUIFER ARE THREATENED___NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
DO NOT FORGET THE TAXES ON THE EXTRA $$$$$$$$$$
IF I LOSE MY WELL BECAUSE DATA CENTER IS SUCKING UP MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER:
THE LAST COST I HEARD TO DIG DEEPER IS OVER $100 A FOOT==OVER $10,000 TO ADD ANOTHER 100 FEET TO MY WELL. NOT COUNTING THE LIKELY 4 WEEKS OR MORE WAITING PERIOD IN LINE FOR THE DRILLER. CANNOT RESIDE WITHOUT WATER.....
THIS ENTIRE VALLEY-—MOSTLY RETIREES-—LIVES ON PRIVATE WELLS ON AN AQUIFER.
THAT IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN FOR ALL OF US.
“could cause noise.” That’s my concern. The constant hum that decreases property values. I need to do more research on data centers.
$10,000 and stock in the company...!
The residents had better get their checks and deposit them before construction begins.
Wish someone would give me $10K. I ain’t no NIMBY whiner like 75% of FR now.
No, that is not fair unless they are willing to take on any losses. FR is full of data center whiners now.
All BS excuses from NIMBY’s.
As long as you post in all caps, I will never read your posts and I am not the only one.
There wasn't a breakdown of any kind based on size. But it's a paper that's never had a conservative working in the newsroom - to the best of my knowledge. I think the sentence was included because they wanted to jump on the 'Data Centers Bad' newest democrat talking point - but also wanted to be truthful. Florida was an early data processing area - going back to the '80's. We've had Data Centers for a long time.
You do realize that your car and home (probably) have what is called a “closed loop” cooling system that does not use water as an evaporative cooling system, right ?
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