Environmental groups in Pennsylvania are advocating for increased buffer zones between natural gas infrastructure and communities, citing an anticipated rise in fracking to power data centers. The Environmental Integrity Project, Clean Air Council, and allies are urging towns and lawmakers to support a plan to expand setbacks to over 2,500 feet to safeguard public health. Existing regulations permit energy infrastructure to be built as close as 500 feet from homes, schools, and hospitals.
The proposal was initially submitted in a petition to the state’s Environmental Quality Board in 2024 and forwarded to the Department of Environmental Protection for analysis, expected by year’s end. Natural gas production is poised to rise, supplying power to energy-intensive data centers planned across Pennsylvania.
“The data-center expansion will primarily use fracked gas,” stated Matt Kelso of FracTracker Alliance, which analyzes the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. “It involves wells, pipelines, trucking, and more to deliver gas from its source to data centers or power plants.”
According to Data Center Proposal Tracker, 47 data centers are in development or planning stages in Pennsylvania, with 21 more yet to seek approvals.
The petition recommends increasing the minimum distance between gas infrastructure and homes to at least 1 kilometer (3,281 feet), and 1 mile (5,280 feet) for buildings like schools or hospitals. It also suggests a 750-foot buffer between gas plants and water bodies.
The American Petroleum Institute of Pennsylvania opposes the plan, arguing it imposes excessive restrictions. Stephanie Catarino Wissman, the chapter’s executive director, stated it exceeds the panel’s authority and would confine operations to limited areas.
EIP attorney Lisa Hallowell highlighted 42 studies linking proximity to gas infrastructure to health risks, including a study showing increased lymphoma risk in children living near gas wells. She refuted claims that the rule change would ban fracking, emphasizing it targets new wells.
The American Petroleum Institute noted that increasing the setback to 3,281 feet would restrict production across a much larger area compared to the current 500-foot rule.
EIP community advocate Lisa Graves-Marcucci cited a grand jury report from 2020, led by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro, now governor, as inspiration for the setbacks.
Graves-Marcucci noted that towns can legally increase setback distances beyond the state minimum, although not all local officials may be aware. She encouraged participation in an upcoming rally at the state capitol in Harrisburg to push for greater setbacks.
Cecil Township had already increased its setback to 2,500 feet in 2024, prompting legislative backlash that could impact towns following suit.
Environmental advocates argue that Pennsylvania’s significant natural gas reserves attract industries with little regard for community impact. Lauren Posey of Protect PT emphasized the historical pattern of industrial development in the region, now extending to data centers.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org