<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1OjES6_1H3mfodO00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1OjES6_1H3mfodO00" width="976" height="549" ></figure>In a contentious meeting that stretched nearly three hours, the Bethlehem Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a 120-megawatt data center at 2184 Industrial Drive, granting three critical waivers despite intense opposition from dozens of residents.The approval came after commission Chairman Rob Melosky explained the legal constraints surrounding the development, which was proposed prior to the city adopting new zoning regulations for data centers last month."This particular project has been submitted prior to the zoning ordinance being changed in reference to data centers. So our job is to analyze that application with the reference being the old zoning ordinance," Melosky said at the meeting's outset.The two-story 65,590-square-foot data center will occupy a 6.8-acre industrial site near Route 22 and Lehigh Valley International Airport. It also includes 61,018 square feet for an electrical substation, 17,159 square feet for voltage equipment, two loading spaces and 10 off-street parking spaces.It is designed by Tensor IQ and being developed by local firm Boyle Construction with Bohler LLC.Dylan Panebianco, vice president of operations with Boyle Construction, emphasized the project's environmental considerations and appearance within view of the highway."We are very conscious about this being as attractive as possible," he told commissioners. "We've been working with the city to make sure that it can be as aesthetically pleasing as everybody wants it to be."The data center will use natural gas turbine generators to supply 20% of its power at all times, with the ability to scale up to 100% during grid stress or outages. The facility will employ a closed-loop liquid cooling system that requires no water consumption for cooling operations, though it will use approximately 45 million gallons of water annually to meet federal emissions standards.Resident concerns dominated the public comment period, with more than 30 speakers voicing opposition. Laurel Chuss, whose home sits 400 feet from the proposed site, urged further study before voting to approve the project."I urge the board not to allow this project to proceed without full independently conducted engineering and environmental impact studies," she said.Bret Becker, who lives directly across Route 22, questioned the project's broader impacts."What will my property value be when this data center goes up?" Becker asked.The commission approved three waivers requested by the developer: allowing steeper fill slopes, wider driveway entrances for truck and emergency vehicle access, and a fee in lieu of planting required trees on-site due to security clearances around electrical infrastructure.Craig Pfeiffer, city assistant director of planning and zoning, acknowledged the developer's cooperation in leading up to Thursday's approval."This applicant has come to us multiple times, three, four, maybe five meetings," he said, crediting the development team's "outreach and openness in what they wanted to do."Pfeiffer added that the developer agreed to comply with most provisions of Bethlehem's new data center ordinance adopted Oct. 20 by the city council despite not being legally required to do so.Jonathan Houk, CEO of Tensor IQ, defended the project's design during public questions."We are going to commit not to the politicians but to the town a portion of our revenues that will set aside. We'll build a group that will actually say for the town, 'What do you want to use this funding for?'" Houk said.He indicated the facility would create 110 jobs including network operators, security personnel and mechanical engineers.The meeting grew heated during the final vote, with audience members shouting objections and city officials threatening to call in police to restore order."Everyone has had their say," the planners' attorney, Matthew Deschler, said, as the commission moved forward with the roll call for final approval.Deschler explained the commission's limited authority."Ultimately, what the planning commission members have to decide upon is how does the law, even if we like it or not, how does the law apply to this plan," he told the crowd.The approval allows the project to move forward to the next phase of development, subject to compliance with conditions outlined in a review letter from the city dated Nov. 11.<h2>Data centers in Pennsylvania</h2>Track hyperscale data centers projects in Pennsylvania via our map and database.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4ZYG3G_1H3mfodO00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4ZYG3G_1H3mfodO00" width="960" height="635" ><figcaption>A joint project from PennLive and lehighvalleylive.com documents the growth of data centers in Pennsylvania.Megan Lavey-Heaton</figcaption></figure>If we've missed one, please submit via this form. Click here to see our methodology and read more stories in Lehigh Valley Live's ongoing data center coverage.Read the original article on lehighvalleylive.com. Add lehighvalleylive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.</div></body>

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In a contentious meeting that stretched nearly three hours, the Bethlehem Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a 120-megawatt data center at 2184 Industrial Drive, granting three critical waivers despite intense opposition from dozens of residents. The approval came after commission Chairman Rob Melosky explained the legal constraints...

Bethlehem data center approved despite resident opposition

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In a contentious meeting that stretched nearly three hours, the Bethlehem Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a 120-megawatt da

Bethlehem data center approved despite resident opposition

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