Jun 24, 2026 By Conner Goetz 3 min read

More than 50 residents expressed their support for a proposed ordinance regulating data center development in Amwell Township during a Monday night hearing at the Lone Pine Social Hall.

The township’s board of supervisors called the hearing after tabling a motion to adopt the ordinance in May, citing a need for further revision and public comment.

The ordinance has subsequently been rewritten and expanded, with some portions taking inspiration from the recently adopted ordinance in South Strabane Township, according to board Chairman H. Wayne Montgomery.

Montgomery emphasized that the board has not received any applications for data center projects, saying that the ordinance effort is a proactive step.

Resident Jeff Zollers applauded the board’s ongoing revision efforts, saying that the latest draft ordinance is a “night and day” improvement from the initial version.

Zollers said that while the ordinance is moving in the right direction, it needs more precise language regarding vegetation buffer requirements.

According to resident Gary Ford, “this is really good compared to the South Strabane ordinance.”

Board Vice Chairman Scott Hartley said the Amwell Township ordinance is designed to be “as restrictive as possible” while complying with state and federal law.

Hartley said the board is considering an update to a current ordinance regarding noise pollution to bring it in line with the proposed data center ordinance.

According to Hartley, the board is looking to adopt a second ordinance to regulate fossil fuel power generation within the township.

These two new ordinances and additional updated ordinance mirror the ordinance “trifecta” touted by South Strabane Solicitor Dennis Makel as that township’s way to limit prospective data center projects.

A 1,400-acre property off of Zediker Station Road in South Strabane triggered a county-wide data center outcry last fall when it was listed for sale as a prime location for a potential data center site.

Residents across the county have since called for increased regulations on their development, citing concerns about water, noise and light pollution.

Amwell Township resident Jerrica Briggs told the board that local citizens don’t know what long-term negative impacts data center projects could bring to the rural area south of Washington.

Briggs said data centers could be “the asbestos of our time,” referring to the once-common insulation material that was later determined to be a leading cause of mesothelioma and other detrimental lung conditions.

Montgomery said the board hopes to have the final ordinance up for adoption by its meeting in August, although that timeline will depend on how much revision the ordinance requires following the public hearing.

A copy of the draft ordinance can be found online at https://amwelltownship.org/forms/.