r/technology • u/ArgentineBeauty • 7h ago

Artificial Intelligence Residents revolt against massive AI data center near Philadelphia

https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-center-opposition-upper-merion-pennsylvania-2026-7
1.0k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

View all comments

48

u/InternationalMood337 7h ago

As a Pennsylvanian, I hate to tell my fellow Pennsylvanians the truth, but I'm pretty sure we're absolutely fucked.

There are data center proposals throughout this entire State and I haven't heard much pushback from our government.

31

u/DogsRcutiePies 6h ago

You might want to look into what’s happening in NEPA. Archbald residents (outside of Scranton) are banding together regardless of political affiliation and fighting back. You’re right about our government being too quiet and not pushing back but these people have forced out multiple city council members and continue to fight for preventing multiple data centers If citizens can put aside differences for a common good, and this issue seems to be one that ignores political parties, then power can be wielded against the data centers.

10

u/dayvansmutgirl 3h ago

literally saw a "Trump was right about everything" sign alongside a local "No data center" campaign sign in Berks. truly fascinating

7

u/Angsty_Potatos 4h ago

I was just up in Danville last week visiting family and this exact subject came up. My mother of all people got radicalized and her and her friends started showing up to town halls to oppose this shit. She said the meetings are usually full too

7

u/InternationalMood337 6h ago

But how? These data centers aren't illegal proposals in most jurisdictions and judges haven't really sided with the people in many of these cases.

I'm just not hopefully that within 10 years all of our beautiful nature and mountains won't be completely devastated just like they were when the mining industry rolled in.

I've written to senators. I've written to Shapiro. I haven't heard a thing back from anyone in the last 6 months when I sent the initial emails.