Data Center DECISION TREE AND RESOURCES

The Data Center Decision Tree for Communities is a visual roadmap to see what you can do to advocate against data centers or mitigate harm from data centers in your community based on the situation you are in.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Data Center Decision Tree

PDF LINK - If the font is too small in the Online Link, open this PDF version to allow you to zoom in more than the online version.

Book Version: this is a simplified, ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ printable version of the interactive Data Center Decision Tree.

Ohio

Ohio data center decision tree

PDF LINK - If the font is too small in the Online Link, open this PDF version to allow you to zoom in more than the online version.

Book Version: this is a simplified, ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ printable version of the interactive Data Center Decision Tree.

west virginia

West Virginia data center decision tree

PDF LINK - If the font is too small in the Online Link, open this PDF version to allow you to zoom in more than the online version.

Book Version: this is a simplified, ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ printable version of the interactive Data Center Decision Tree.

**Using Zoning for Data Center Advocacy**
How to read zoning codes, and how to use your municipality’s zoning for data center advocacy.

**What Municipalities Can Do to Address Data Centers**
An overview of steps municipalities can take to protect communities from data center impacts.

**Anticipated Local, State, and Federal Permits for Data Centers - PA, OH, WV**
A list of anticipated permits, what they are, public participation requirements, and how strong an opportunity to influence the permit decision.

Live outside of PA, OH, or WV? The decision tree could still be helpful to pointing out some strategic next steps, as most states share relatively similar development processes and permits, and all of the “Team” sections are important regardless where you live! Make sure to check if that “arena” is legal and applicable in your state before spending too much time or energy on it.

If you live in a state with laws that easily allow data center development, you might want to check out West Virginias. West Virginia has passed state laws that take away a lot of local decision-making power and a lot of ‘arenas’ that communities could impact.
If you live in a state with laws that are passing laws that put some protections in place on data centers, you might want to check out Pennsylvanias. Pennsylvania has introduced (but not passed) state laws that create some stronger environmental and utility cost protections, and gives municipalities more decision-making power.