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A proposed zoning ordinance for data centers in Sugarloaf Township has faced significant opposition from residents during a public hearing. The ordinance is linked to a lawsuit by developer LBT Investments, which has approval for a warehouse at the site.

Developers argue that data centers would generate less traffic and adhere to stricter regulations, connecting solely to existing 230-kilovolt power lines instead of the contested 500-kilovolt lines. LBT Investments claims that a closed-loop cooling system would limit water use to approximately 100,000 gallons per building, similar to the approved warehouse.

However, residents expressed skepticism about the benefits of data centers and raised concerns about potential negative impacts on local wells and increased costs for the community. No final decision has been made, and township officials have urged residents to continue voicing their concerns.