Letter to the editor: What Springdale data center portends

All Alle-Kiski Valley residents get their electricity from the same power grid. Therefore, everyone’s rates will rise if the data center in Springdale is approved.

Data centers consume as much energy as a small city, necessitating additional grid infrastructure. If this project is approved, we will all be forced to pay for those grid upgrades, although Springdale is the only entity that will receive tax revenue from the data center.

Other proposed data centers may generate their own power on-site. The Springdale property lacks that potential.

A reporter investigated the impact from the 1,200 data centers in Virginia for Business Insider (“Exposing the Dark Side of America’s AI Data Center Explosion”). Besides large electricity rate increases, there were complaints of extreme water usage, light pollution and an incessant humming noise affecting nearby data center neighborhoods.

The proposed Springdale data center requires a zoning variance from the borough council. The property owner wants a decision by the end of the year. Thousands of people will be affected by this ruling, not just Springdale residents. Springdale council and local citizens have very little time to educate themselves and to speak out. That seems to be the property owner’s strategy — not a good sign.

Arlene Mercurio

New Kensington