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As I stood shoulder to shoulder with Blair County locals sharing our concerns about the data center coming to Taylor Township, the tension in the room was tangible. It was clear the community didn't want a data center, but that's not why we were there. We were there to express opinions about an amendment to an ordinance that would actually help protect the community with greater restrictions. And yet nobody was discussing how the community should benefit from another industry moving into our backyard.
I was born and raised in Altoona and live in Hollidaysburg. Although I'm not a Taylor Township resident, I visit often, as I have friends and family in Roaring Spring. I'm also a PhD student at United Lutheran Seminary researching the ethics and policy of AI and robotics. I believe in a human-centered approach to these newer and rapidly changing technologies that seek to blur the lines between man and machine.
Typically, when an industry moves in, people can see what they gain, which is why the good ones last. When a Tractor Supply moves in, a community has greater access to tools and machinery. When a psychologist opens a practice, there's greater access to support for those who suffer from a mental health diagnosis. And yet when Terawatt seeks to build a data center, we're left thinking about how to best protect ourselves. The overall consolation message in the room was, "It's less harmful than you fear."
As I approached the podium, my message was clear. If a data center was imminent, I wanted to know how our community could benefit. Community benefits agreements (CBAs) are becoming powerful tools for communities to make sure residents benefit from another industry moving in. Through its CBA, Lancaster secured $10 million toward an economic development fund, $10 million toward a clean energy fund, a local hiring plan, free ongoing training for first responders, and reimbursement of emergency costs above $25,000 per incident. More recently, Swatara Township secured an agreement worth over $120 million to support public safety facilities along with an education and scholarship fund. The project's own Q&A already mentions a CBA, and the community should be ready to make those requests known.
The request for a CBA is not a welcome mat. The ordinance, with the amendment, is robust, but it still needs more work to meet the community’s requests for a greater buffer, guarantees that the data center carries its own electricity load, and greater protections against noise and air pollution. If strict terms make the company walk away from a community that already doesn’t want a data center, all the better. High standards protect the community whether the project comes or not.
And yet here’s the nub: AI could improve our industries. But if it means a single industry making trillions while causing harm with little to no benefit, we've sacrificed well-being for a few dozen jobs. I'd welcome the chance to help the township and its residents shape that agreement.