Hanover Township residents gathered Monday night for a continuation of the conditional‑use hearing on the proposed Starpointe data center campus in Starpointe Business Park. The meeting, held at the township volunteer fire department hall near Burgettstown, focused on the on‑site natural‑gas power plant that will supply electricity to the seven‑building, 1.8‑million‑square‑foot facility.
Engineering overview
Concord Engineering Group Project Executive John Coleman testified that the plant will generate between 350 and 450 megawatts using 105 Jenbacher J620 engines. He highlighted the model’s long‑standing reliability record and the ready availability of spare parts. Coleman likened the engines to large commercial‑car engines, noting that regular maintenance will be essential for steady performance.
Each engine will require roughly 200 gallons of coolant circulated through a roof‑mounted fan radiator system. The system is designed to regulate heat and will only need coolant changes if contamination or damage occurs, which is not part of routine operation.
The engines will be housed in a sound‑dampening enclosure rated at 65 decibels measured 30 feet away. Additional sound‑attenuating features in the building will keep noise levels low at the property line.
Battery and grid management
The plant’s first floor will contain a battery system for grid management and load smoothing. Unlike residential solar batteries that store and release power at a later, designated time, this system will continuously store and release energy to regulate the micro‑grid that powers the data center campus.
Regulatory review
Coleman noted that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing an air‑quality permit for the plant, but he could not provide further details as it falls outside his purview.
Next steps
Township Solicitor Dennis Makel announced that exhibits from the ongoing hearing will be posted on the township’s website later this month for public review. He also indicated that the board is considering scheduling five additional meeting dates in October, depending on how the conditional‑use process progresses.
Two of the three township supervisors have been reviewing the conditional‑use permit application from Dallas‑based developer Prime Data Centers LLC since early summer, though the process has experienced delays. The additional meetings are intended to accelerate the review and move the project forward.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
