During the public comment portion of the Feb. 17 Parkland School Board meeting, Parkland resident Greg Sussman presented information on the data center proposed directly across from the high school.

The 5.1 million square foot complex would include six buildings on a campus stretching from Cedar Crest Boulevard to Orefield Road, Mechanicsville Road and Mauch Chunk Road.

Sussman said the 410 acres of former farmland would have a 300-400 megawatt substation and 356 diesel generators, each one half the size of a school bus.

He reported the data center would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“This is industrial scale development next to our children,” Sussman said. He observed the data center would be equivalent to five Parkland High Schools, 4.5 Lehigh Valley Malls or 88 football fields.

Sussman expressed concern over “the constant never ending noise” which would result not only from the generators but also from non-stop cooling systems, exhaust fans, evaporators and air side economizers.

Sussman summarized his concern for the students of Parkland High School. “We need to protect the health, safety and learning environment of our children. It will be impossible to ignore the generators. A persistent hum will never shut off,” Sussman said.

“The school board has a duty to provide a safe learning environment which includes opposition to township initiatives that would negatively impact that environment. The board must take a firm position to oppose the building of the Atlas Data Center using the strongest possible language,” Sussman added.

District Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson provided comments on the matter from his remote location.

“We’re watching what’s happening with that project. We’ll be keeping a close eye on it for sure. We’ll watch as it goes to South Whitehall,” Madson said.