Hanover Township Passes Ordinance to Regulate Potential Data Centers

New rules aim to address community concerns as developers eye industrial park for potential projects

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:53am

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A minimalist, photorealistic studio still life featuring a cluster of sleek, geometric data server racks made of polished aluminum and tempered glass, conceptually representing the technological infrastructure and corporate strategy behind the data center industry.As data centers become a growing presence in western Pennsylvania, local communities are working to proactively shape the development of this emerging industry.Hanover Today

Hanover Township in western Pennsylvania has passed a new ordinance to proactively establish regulations for potential data center developments. The ordinance, which was prompted by growing interest from big tech companies, lays out detailed requirements around location, noise, water usage, power demand, and emergency management. While the township solicitor says the rules can be updated as projects evolve, some community members remain concerned about the environmental impact of data centers.

Why it matters

As western Pennsylvania continues to attract interest from major tech companies looking to build data centers, Hanover Township is taking a proactive approach to establish guidelines that address community concerns. The new ordinance aims to ensure any future data center projects align with the township's values and priorities, while also providing a clear framework for developers.

The details

The most likely location for a data center in Hanover Township would be the Starpointe Industrial Park, which was purchased in 2024 by local developers Andy Miller and Alex Paris. They say a data center could bring millions in property tax revenue and create new jobs, describing it as a 'clean industry' where 'the building sits there and it runs.' However, some residents like Dawn Paden are wary of having a data center in their 'backyards,' preferring to keep such facilities confined to industrial areas. The new ordinance attempts to balance these interests, laying out detailed requirements around issues like location, noise, water usage, power demand, and emergency management. While the township solicitor says the rules can be updated as projects evolve, community members like Seth Sherman of the Center for Coalfield Justice remain concerned about the potential environmental impacts.

  • Hanover Township passed the new data center ordinance on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • Andy Miller and Alex Paris purchased the Starpointe Industrial Park in 2024.

The players

Hanover Township

The local government entity that passed the new ordinance regulating potential data center developments.

Andy Miller

Co-owner of the Starpointe Industrial Park, which is seen as a likely location for a future data center project.

Alex Paris

Co-owner of the Starpointe Industrial Park, which is seen as a likely location for a future data center project.

Dawn Paden

A Hanover Township resident who expressed concerns about having a data center in her 'backyard' rather than confined to industrial areas.

Seth Sherman

Representative of the Center for Coalfield Justice, a community organization that remains concerned about the potential environmental impacts of data centers.

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What they’re saying

“They should be in the industrial park. That's where businesses go. These are our communities. We don't need a data center in our backyards.”

— Dawn Paden, Hanover Township resident

“All the data centers or any businesses that we are going to talk to to develop here, they want to be good neighbors. They want to be contributing to the township, the community, and get along with everybody. And we want to promote that.”

— Andy Miller, Co-owner, Altian Development

“The revenue generated would be probably millions of dollars of property tax per year to the township. And it will create jobs. And it's clean. It's a clean industry. The building sits there, and it runs.”

— Alex Paris, Co-owner, Altian Development

“We hope that the community benefits provision within this will be used as a jumping off point for the members of the community to have their concerns and their wishes about this, because so many people just view this as a big box that's going to go down the street, steal all their power, take all their water, and they're going to get nothing out of it.”

— Seth Sherman, Representative, Center for Coalfield Justice

What’s next

The township solicitor said the new ordinance can be updated as potential data center projects evolve in the future. Many other municipalities in the region are also discussing similar ordinances to proactively address community concerns around data centers.

The takeaway

Hanover Township's new data center ordinance demonstrates how local governments are taking a proactive approach to regulating emerging technologies and industries, balancing the potential economic benefits with community priorities around environmental impact, resource usage, and quality of life.