Residents Criticize Data Center Pamphlet as ‘Propaganda’

Residents Push Back Against Data Center Development in Archbald

In a dramatic display of community opposition, dozens of Archbald residents returned promotional materials to developers during a contentious public hearing about a proposed data center project in Lackawanna County. The Monday evening meeting at Valley View High School’s auditorium marked the third public hearing for the controversial Wildcat Ridge Data Center project.

The confrontation began before the formal proceedings even started. Residents filed to the front of the auditorium, depositing pamphlets titled “Wildcat Ridge Data Center: Myths vs. Facts” into a box labeled “Wildcat Ridge propaganda Mailer Return.” These promotional materials had been distributed to mailboxes throughout the borough just days earlier.

“I think it hit like a thud. I think if nothing else, it got people riled up. There’s a lot of people here tonight that disagreed with what was in there,” said Amy Swingle, an Archbald resident, referring to the community’s reaction to the mailers.

The Wildcat Ridge proposal represents the largest data center development pitched for Archbald to date. Plans call for 14 buildings spread across nearly 600 acres situated above Route 247, locally known as Wildcat Road. During the hearing, engineers and an attorney representing the developer faced extensive questioning, with traffic impacts emerging as a primary concern among attendees.

This latest hearing occurs against a backdrop of increasing data center activity throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Such meetings have become almost weekly occurrences in the region, particularly in Lackawanna County, as technology companies seek to establish massive computing facilities in areas with available land and power infrastructure.

Thomas Munley of neighboring Jessup expressed his frustration during the meeting, challenging the developers directly: “You said propaganda when you were here? Want to talk about propaganda? I’ll tell you about propaganda.”

Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan voiced similar concerns, stating, “The pamphlet that was sent out reduces our area, our homes, our lives, and our future into a transaction.” Many residents interviewed indicated they found the “facts” presented in the promotional materials to be questionable at best.

Data centers have become increasingly controversial in previously rural and suburban communities across America. These massive facilities house computer systems and components for remote data storage, processing, and distribution. While developers often tout economic benefits including tax revenue and job creation, communities frequently raise concerns about increased traffic, noise pollution, strain on local power grids, and environmental impacts.

The debate in Archbald highlights the growing tension between technology sector expansion and community preservation. As cloud computing and digital services continue their exponential growth, the physical infrastructure required to support these services must be built somewhere, often leading to confrontations between developers and established communities.

The Wildcat Ridge project remains in an uncertain state, with its conditional use application pending. A fourth hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, May 14, at 5:00 p.m., where residents and developers will again face off over the future of the community.

The ongoing controversy in Archbald represents just one example of similar conflicts occurring nationwide as technology infrastructure expands into new territories. Communities are increasingly organizing to have their concerns addressed before such large-scale developments are approved.

For Archbald residents, the fight against the data center appears far from over. Their coordinated return of promotional materials demonstrates a sophisticated level of community organization that developers may not have anticipated when proposing the project. As both sides prepare for the next hearing, the outcome of this confrontation could set precedents for how other communities engage with technology infrastructure proposals in the future.