People living in Archbald, a small town located in Pennsylvania, find themselves embroiled in an escalating conflict over a series of data centers being proposed for the area. The proposal entails the construction of six campus sites, comprising 51 data centers, on the premises. These facilities will be roughly the size of Walmart Supercenters. Collectively, they will take up approximately 14% of the town’s total area of 17 square miles.
To put the matter into perspective, it is worth noting that there are only 7,000 people living in this area.
The local government initially paved the way for such ventures back in 2023, passing zoning legislation that permitted the construction of data centers in the area. Initially, this legislation passed without much fanfare. However, this changed in 2025.
There is a long history of industrial activities here. There used to be coal mining and rail transportation in this part. After this activity started fading in the beginning of the twentieth century, the town became more peaceful. According to many residents of Archbald, it was the very aspect that made them move here. Hence, the recent interest shown by large-scale tech firms came as a surprise.
Balancing Infrastructure Demands and Community Stability
Looking from their perspective, it all seems quite reasonable. There is a massive electric line passing through the territory of the city. The 500-kilovolt Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line connects a 2.5-gigawatt nuclear facility in New Jersey. It is not easy to find a place that provides such a powerful electricity supply.
The availability of land and freshwater resources, which are important for the cooling process, makes it easier and cheaper to build a facility for these companies.
The same considerations have implications for local residents.
Many of them fear increased pressure on local utilities. Indeed, data centers consume massive amounts of electricity and water. In some of the neighboring communities that have had data centers established there recently, residents have reported increases in utility payments and reductions in the quality of services provided. Archbald residents fear the same will happen to them soon.
Moreover, many locals express their concern regarding noise and light issues caused by 24/7 operations at the data center, its cooling system, backup generator, and lights. They state that they are unwilling to exchange their comfortable living conditions for some facilities that might not be beneficial to them at all.
Nevertheless, the problem has extended far beyond the local community. Indeed, it has attracted attention at the national level since data centers have begun emerging throughout the United States. President Donald Trump asked major tech companies to agree to a “ratepayer protection pledge” so as to protect the local population from increased electricity payments linked to intensive data usage.
The AI Power Struggle: From Coal Dust to Cloud Servers in a Town Divided
The tensions in the town have now escalated to their peak. Four out of seven council members have already decided to resign from their posts. Some members of the planning board have quit their positions as well. According to the former employees, the criticism had become increasingly personal and extended beyond their professional lives, even invading social networks.
This trend can be observed nationally. Numerous cases have shown that data center initiatives have been met with intense resistance. Voters in some municipalities have ousted local administrators supporting the expansion of facilities. Other projects have either been suspended due to public unrest or court decisions.
In Archbald, however, the dispute had acquired an additional symbolic value. One recent facility started cutting trees on its territory using a technicality in legislation. Although such a measure was not illegal per se, it provoked considerable outrage among local residents.
The newly elected council member, Larry West, made mention of the history of his town, stating that it took several decades for all the coal dust from previous years to go away. It appears that once again, another period of change is going to come to town but this time it will be driven by data rather than coal.
West’s statement sums up the essence of this discussion. Those who support the project refer to job opportunities and economic gain from the tax revenues. Opponents talk about potential expenses which can prove to be more than beneficial.
Data Centers, Citizen Power, and the Future of Small-Town America
So far, the fate of the two proposed campuses is unclear. The permitting process continues, and pressure from citizens keeps mounting.
What will happen next in the town of Archbald can set an example for many small towns across America. As the need for infrastructure in the field of data technology increases, so does the interest in its limits and boundaries.
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