Franklin County cuts solar rule from proposed data center regulations

Franklin County commissioners approved changes to a proposed ordinance that would set rules for data centers in municipalities without zoning districts.

The planning department made edits to the document — a proposed amendment to the county’s subdivision and land development ordinance, known as SALDO — after analyzing public comments submitted at a public hearing earlier this month. Of the approximately 100 people who shared comments — 79 submitted written responses and the rest spoke at the meeting — only one did not outright oppose data centers coming to Franklin County.

Due to strong interest, the county commissioners scheduled a second public hearing for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Franklin County Administration Building, 272 N. Second St., Chambersburg. Residents who want to share statements can speak at the meeting in person or submit written comments online at bit.ly/3O99ElJ.

“We as commissioners have very serious concerns about the impact data centers could have on our communities,” Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst said in a news release announcing the second hearing. “The goal of this proposed amendment is to put reasonable measures in place to ensure the impacts of data center development are mitigated and do not create negative impacts for our residents, our businesses and our agricultural community. We encourage our local municipalities to adopt these guidelines for their own use to ensure that any new development is consistent with our way of life.”

Solar power rule cut

A requirement that data centers generate solar power to offset at least 25% of a site’s energy consumption was cut over farmland preservation concerns.

The rule was popular among residents at the first public hearing April 1, where it was viewed as a deterrent to data center developers. Those comments followed Horst spotlighting the issue and saying he would not support the SALDO amendment if the solar energy rule remained. Ultimately, the rule was cut after a consultant determined it would likely require a solar farm of 1,000 acres or more to generate enough power for a single data center, according to Planning Director Quentin Clapper.

The commissioners voted 2-1 at their regular meeting April 8 to accept the revisions to the proposed SALDO amendment. Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski, the board’s lone Democrat, tied his vote against the revisions directly to the removal of the solar requirement, saying regulations could prevent negative environmental impacts.

“I don’t think solar farms are anti-agriculture, but my primary reason for not supporting the changes is I do think 25% is a poison pill, and I am not in favor of bringing data centers to most locations in Franklin County,” he said.

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Additional edits removed nuclear energy as a recommended alternative energy source, added a section to the water impact analysis on the effects of well withdrawals on agricultural irrigation, and addressed concerns about ensuring data center owners have sufficient funds to decommission sites at the end of their useful lives, Clapper said.

With the ordinance, Franklin County aims to have regulations in place before any data center project is proposed in the area.

A few months ago, Horst recommended developing a model ordinance that municipalities without zoning could adopt to ensure regulations are in place if a data center developer comes calling. The proposed ordinance is the result.

Currently, a data center could be developed without guardrails in communities that do not have zoning.

Commissioner John Flannery urged residents to attend their local municipal meetings, saying that is where decisions about potential data centers would ultimately be made.

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin County revises data center regulations before second hearing