Power Plants with Hard Drives

At a contentious 2026 meeting, over 1,000 residents of Upper Merion Township gathered to protest a massive data center development proposed by MLP Ventures. Led by developer Brian O’Neill, the plan to build 4.6 million square feet of infrastructure sparked intense criticism over potential environmental hazards, noise pollution, and massive energy consumption. While O'Neill emphasized the economic benefits and potential tax revenue increases for the school district, the local tax collector highlighted the developer's history of delinquent payments. Community members expressed deep skepticism toward the project's sustainability claims, specifically questioning the use of natural gas and the massive water requirements of the facilities. The meeting concluded with planning officials requesting further transparency as the community remains steadfast in its opposition to transforming the area into an industrial cluster.