‘Never seen anything quite like it’: How rural Pennsylvania’s $165 million data center fight became representative of the bipartisan battle against AI

Hazleton, Pennsylvania, a town once notorious for its anti-immigration policies, is now facing a different kind of battle: the construction of a $165 million data center. This unexpected shift highlights how the AI infrastructure boom has united people from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations across the country, creating a bipartisan opposition to data centers.

The controversy began when NorthPoint Development, a developer, approached Hazle Township, home to Hazleton, with an offer of $10,000 for each of its 4,500 residents if they approved the construction of a 1,300-acre data center. Simultaneously, nearby Sugarloaf Township faced threats of eminent domain over a proposed high-voltage power line that would run through the area and the data center.

Local residents, regardless of their political leanings, joined forces to protest the projects, forming the Alliance to Stop the Line and filing formal protests with the utilities company and the state.

The opposition to data centers is not limited to one class or political party. Annie Vinatieri, a protester from Sugarloaf Township, noted that the opponents are a mix of working, middle, and upper-class individuals, mostly white, but decidedly nonpartisan, including many new to environmental protests. She emphasized that the cause feels like a righteous one, transcending political differences.

The growing opposition to data centers has had a tangible impact on the AI boom. According to a Data Center Watch report, 75 data center projects worth over $130 billion were delayed or canceled in the first three months of 2025. Additionally, active opposition groups have grown from 396 to 833 during the same period.

One key reason for the bipartisan dissent against data centers is the lack of clear communication from tech companies about the benefits of these facilities. Tatishe Nteta, a political science professor and director of UMass Poll, explained that while companies like Amazon have not definitively agreed to the Project Hazelnut in Pennsylvania, they are "evaluating multiple sites across the Commonwealth."

This lack of transparency has fueled the opposition, as residents question the true motives and potential consequences of the data center projects.

Despite initial plans for fast-track permits and significant investments by Amazon, Governor Josh Shapiro reversed course in August, signing an executive order that returned decision-making power to local agencies. This shift reflects the widespread concern over data center development and the desire for greater transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process.