Schuylkill County Commissioners Chairman Larry Padora believes data centers here aren’t a bad thing, if they’re in the “right location.”
Padora was responding to a concerned Butler Township resident during Wednesday’s Commissioners board meeting.
Bernie Karpovich says he’s worried that a proposed data center development will be built next to his property just outside Frackville.
In September, KRNL Frackville LLC purchased two parcels of land in New Castle Township for $600,000, right on the borders of Butler Township and Frackville. On those parcels, the company is reportedly considering the construction of a data center development.
Last year, Coal Region Canary obtained this rendering of the proposed data centers on that land, which is right off Interstate 81 (see below).
Numerous Butler Township residents have taken their concerns over this proposed development to local municipalities, including New Castle Township, saying at the very least, this is not the right spot for a data center due to its proximity to a residential area and because it’s a zoned conservation area.
Karpovich brought his concerns to the Commissioners on Wednesday, however, Padora told him that what happens in New Castle Township is really an issue for that municipality.
New Castle has its own zoning board, so the County can take no official actions on that proposed development.
In comments reacting to some of Karpovich’s claims, which he said came from research he’s done on the internet, mostly, Padora expressed his support for data centers coming to Schuylkill County, just as long as they’re in the right location.
“If data centers want to locate in Schuylkill County and it’s the right area, I don’t believe it’s an issue,” Padora said. “In the proper location, they’re not a bad thing.”
A proper location, he emphasized, is not someone’s back yard.
The Commissioner believes data centers will generate enough tax revenue for Schuylkill County government that might help avoid increases in coming years. Padora said the County government is currently experiencing about $450,000 in new growth per year. Meanwhile, spending goes up by an average of $1.5 million annually.
“We need growth. We need some type of growth in this county. We need some industry in this county,” he added.
Padora said he believes municipalities and the County government need to work with data center developers to find those right locations for their projects.
“I’m not one of these people that you just say no to something instantly. You’ve got to work with the companies, find the right locations, the right areas for them, but they could be a benefit to the County,” he said. “They could be a benefit for school districts and municipalities.”
Padora said a local Schuylkill County delegation recently visited Loudon County, Virginia, which has received national attention due to its data center developments. And what he says he’s learned about them is that newer models aren’t as resouce-dependent as older versions.
He also stressed the economic benefit to data centers, based on his research, including talking to that local delagation.
Padora said newer data centers employ between 85-100 people making $85,000 a year right out of high school. He also said newer data centers work on a closed-loop cooling system that uses less water – about 10,000 gallons daily – that a high-rise housing complex.
“We’re educating ourselves on data centers because it’s coming. Eventually, you’re going to have one somewhere in Schuylkill County,” he said. “Unfortunately, this is the industry of the future. We, the people, are the ones creating data centers.”
READ MORE:
Data Center Debate Hits Schuylkill County
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Howard Pryda
January 17, 2026 at 8:26 pm
They use to much water, provide few permanent jobs and drive up electric rates all so people can cosplay on Chat GPT. Schuylkill county is not teaming with IT professionals so most of the permanent IT pros will come from surrounding counties.
In the future they will targets for terrorist and foreign adversaries.
These politician’s are being BS’d by 30 year olds, because they are not very smart.
Howard Pryda
January 17, 2026 at 8:29 pm
about 10,000 gallons daily – that a high-rise housing complex.
How many high-rise housing complexes do we have in the county?
$85k right out of high school is complete nonsense. You’d have to be an uniformed fool to believe that.