Pennsylvania Developer Offers $10,000 to Residents for Data Center Approval
A Pennsylvania real estate developer offered $10,000 in cash to every household in Hazle Township in exchange for approving a massive data center, sparking local resistance.
A major real estate developer in Pennsylvania has offered local residents $10,000 in cash per household, with no restrictions on how the money is spent, in exchange for approving a massive data center project. However, many residents of Hazle Township are hesitant to accept the offer, with some viewing it as an attempt at bribery.
The letters began arriving in June on behalf of NorthPoint Development. The proposed data center is the first of 15 facilities the company plans to build across approximately 5,260 acres in the Pocono Mountains. If approved, a check would be sent to each of the 4,500 households in the township, totaling $45 million.
Community Skepticism and Opposition
In Hazle, where the median household income is around $60,000, this is a significant sum. Yet despite financial considerations, few residents have expressed willingness to support the project for the money, citing concerns ranging from noise pollution to a general distrust of such developments.
"$10,000 doesn't come close to the damage that will be caused to my property value," said Jeff Paschnacht, a retired teacher living near the proposed site.
Regulatory Pushback and Legal Battles
Data center developers have increasingly offered towns multi-million-dollar packages, including funding for fire departments and schools. Direct cash payments to residents, however, represent a new escalation in the expansion of AI infrastructure.
Despite the developer's offers—including an additional $120 million commitment over the next 15 years—the local government rejected the project in November over zoning concerns. NorthPoint subsequently filed a lawsuit to overturn the decision, while the township enacted a temporary moratorium on data center construction.
