Bensalem Township Council unanimously voted to pause all data center development for six months while it rewrites its zoning rules, responding to growing resident alarm over the facilities' impact on electric grids, water usage, air quality and property values. About 25 residents attended the meeting demanding tough regulations, independent monitoring, and requirements that data centers supply their own power — though officials noted a full ban is off the table since state law prohibits exclusionary zoning. The urgency is compounded by a lack of legal clarity: Bensalem's zoning code doesn't even define a data center. There are 18 bills pending in Harrisburg to address the issue but only one has cleared committee. The council set a Sept. 1 deadline to produce a draft ordinance, aiming to get ahead of developers before one can force a facility on the township without proper oversight.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/10/2026