Upper Burrell gets its water from the Municipal Authority of New Kensington, which comes from the Allegheny River. It is a very small municipal authority that is likely ill-suited to meeting the demands of such a massive data center. 

Many of these facilities are being proposed alongside gas fired power plants or mobile gas turbines, which release harmful pollutants into the air. Data centers also typically have an array of diesel generators, which, in the event of a power outage, would kick on and emit further pollution.

Data centers use tremendous amounts of electricity, which can drive up costs for local residents, potentially increasing costs by 70%. Similarly, water costs may increase, as data centers use significant amounts of water to cool the facility.

Data centers are very noisy— they create incessant mechanical sounds, putting wildlife welfare at risk. Further, data center facilities will create additional light pollution in rural areas.

Because this data center would consume so much electricity, it would place a greater strain on our limited energy resources, encouraging more unconventional oil and gas development. Southwest PA is already feeling the burden of this infrastructure.