If you are looking for a general overview of what data center facilities are, how townships are currently addressing them, and some general land use planning advice, check out the following PSATS resources:  

• Classes on data centers are available to view at any time. Our most recent on-demand webinar, Basic Planning for Data Centers, includes information about different types of facilities, land use tools available for townships, and frequently asked questions. 
• Example data center ordinances and guidance documents are available on our website. Sign in to your psats.org account, click on the Programs & Services tab, and choose Resource Center to view and download. PSATS highly recommends working with your solicitor when drafting land-use ordinances, and documents in the Resource Center are simply intended to be used as guides. 
• The May edition of PA Township News magazine features a lead article on data centers. Check out the digital edition for a video short addressing common questions on data center power usage and water-cooling technology. 

If you are looking for public education material for your website or social media activities to help communicate to your residents what you can and cannot do, check out PSATS Executive Director Dave Sanko’s comments when he recently appeared on WGAL’s In Focus. Dave explains in plain language local government’s land-use limitations placed upon it by the state. 

There are additional videos on the PSATS website: https://www.psats.org/psats-resolutions/  

In addition to PSATS resources, DCED has compiled the Pennsylvania Data Center Planning Toolkit. It includes practical guidance to help local governments understand data centers and evaluate proposals in a way that aligns with local authority, infrastructure realities, and community goals.