A Tiny Town Is Building So Many Data Centers That There’ll Be Almost Nothing Else Left

Archbald, Pennsylvania is confronting a wave of proposed data center campuses that could take up a large share of the small borough.

Residents have organized petitions and protests, arguing the projects lack transparency and could strain land use and the power grid.

The clash has fueled political turmoil as local officials and developers debate the future of the town.

The case highlights how surging AI computing demand is reshaping rural communities and local politics.