On 7/2/25, the Covington Township Planning Board held a workshop mtg. The only item on the agenda was the "Discussion regarding Zone Change Ordinance Re: Data Center". The attorney for the proposed data center was there to answer questions. He stated that the 34 proposed buildings will all have their own wells (pulling from groundwater), and that grey water from the sewer treatment plant will be used to cool the equipment. He said that he had helped the Supervisors write the proposed ordinance which includes the use of a "SMR" (Small Modular Reactor a class of small nuclear fission reactor designed to be built in a factory, shipped to operational sites sites for installation and then used to power buildings or other commercial operations). He referred to the proposed ordinance which would allow buildings to reach 120 ft for buildings and 200 ft. for any water towers.
The data center attorney also said that he had already filed an appeal with the Lackawanna County Courts against Clifton Township regarding land use. (Clifton Township has not held their Zoning Hearing Board meeting yet regarding the proposed data center substantive validity challenge - so they are premature on filing this!).
Residents are urged to get a copy of the proposed Covington Data Center Ordinance and get involved before it is too late! On July 24 Covington will hold their hearing on the proposed ordinance and on July 29 Clifton Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold their hearing on the validity challenge (at the Gouldsboro Firehouse, Rt. 507, Gouldsboro).
Please share this info with friends, family, and coworkers who live in Covington!