(The Center Square) – Local government officials in Pennsylvania who have witnessed the storm of controversy over data center proposals are using a tool in state law that lets them create a de facto six-month moratorium.
Language in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code essentially says an entity without “data center” wording in its zoning ordinance can take a 180-day pause from considering proposals to create and adopt appropriate wording. East Whiteland Township, Chester County, supervisors in March voted to start its 180-day clock – even though the township already has an approved data center plan in its jurisdiction that is causing an uproar.
“It gives you time to write a zoning ordinance in peace,” said Township Manager Steve Brown. If a second, separate data center proposal should come in, he said, “We wanted to be ready for that.”…