Tarentum Proposes Ordinances for Data Center Development Regulation

Tarentum officials are creating three ordinance updates to regulate data centers, crypto mining facilities, and battery storage sites in response to a project in Springdale that will convert the former Cheswick Generating Station. These updates will focus on zoning and utility requirements, ensuring that costs for necessary upgrades fall on developers.

Proposed regulations will prohibit large-load facilities in residential and non-commercial zones to mitigate infrastructure strain, particularly on water and electricity resources. Concerns have been raised regarding water usage impacting the Allegheny River ecosystem. The drafts will undergo legal review before a council vote, reflecting proactive measures to manage potential developments in the region, where similar facilities are also planned in nearby communities.