The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
North Beaver Township
Anti-Data Center Policies
Pennsylvania requires data centers over 25 MW to obtain local approvals, secure power for their full demand, cover project-related grid costs, and meet added community, jobs, environmental, and reporting obligations. These rules may raise costs and delay or prevent covered projects, but do not ban them.
Rating and summary from Pennsylvania statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for North Beaver Township.
current law · North Beaver TownshipThis North Beaver Township ordinance establishes requirements for future data centers and limits them to designated industrial-zoned areas.North Beaver Township data center ordinance (2026)
Sources
current law · North Beaver TownshipRestricts data centers to three industrial zones in North Beaver Township and requires safeguards for water, air, noise, and the environment, plus funding to decommission them.North Beaver Township, Pennsylvania data-center siting ordinance (2026)
People behind it
- Mark Courson
Township supervisor; reporting identifies the supervisors including Chairman Mark Courson, Scott Barth and Grant McKinley.
- Scott Barth
Township supervisor identified in the same report.
- Grant McKinley
Township supervisor identified in the same report.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3
Adopted base rule: data centers are limited to industrial areas.
Proposed June amendment only: 550-foot setback from residential/agricultural districts, 300 feet from property lines/public road rights-of-way, and 250 feet for parking lots.
Proposed June amendment only: 59 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) nighttime limits, plus closed-loop water circulation and a water feasibility study. Amendment adoption is unverified; these proposed thresholds must not be represented as enacted requirements.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
The notice describes data centers and accessory uses as permitted uses in the I–Industrial district. Reporting confirms the adopted measure allows regular use in industrial areas; this is not approval of a specific project.
Sources
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