LEWISTOWN — Two Mifflin County commissioners, speaking as individual elected officials, have voiced opposition to potential data center development in the county, as Standard Steel Corp. has also raised concerns about the effect such a project could have on power reliability and costs for existing industry.

Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish spoke against data center development during a recent meeting of the No Data Center Group. Commissioner Noah Wise also attended the meeting and spoke in opposition to the project.

The commissioners do not have the authority to approve or reject a data center project. Kodish and Wise said they were speaking for themselves, not on behalf of the Mifflin County Board of Commissioners. But both said the issue carries countywide consequences because of its potential effect on power demand, water use, land use and existing employers.

Standard Steel, one of Mifflin County’s largest and oldest industrial employers, has also shared concerns with county officials about a potential data center.

According to information provided by Standard Steel, the company employs 600 people and contributes more than $100 million annually to the economy of central Pennsylvania. The company said its primary concern is the effect a large data center could have on the incoming power supply needed to operate its Burnham facility.

Standard Steel operates an electric arc furnace to melt scrap steel. The company said the efficiency of that furnace depends on a steady level of incoming voltage from the utility.

“Data centers and their large power demands tend to alter the stability of the voltage, especially during peak demand periods,” according to the information Standard Steel provided to county officials.

Standard Steel said it has confirmed with Penelec that the utility will not offer guarantees or service-level agreements to protect the company’s incoming voltage if a data center is built. The company said any disruption to voltage levels could add millions of dollars to its annual operating costs and affect its profitability and ability to compete.

Standard Steel also said it is concerned about the possible effect on its power bill.

According to the company, the current power infrastructure in Mifflin County does not offer an opportunity to support the type of load a hyperscale data center would require. Standard Steel said a dedicated power feed and supporting infrastructure would be needed.

The company said current PJM power grid regulations could require the costs of grid upgrades to be shared among utility customers, while the data center would be responsible for the cost of connecting to the grid locally. As one of the largest electricity consumers in the area, Standard Steel said that could substantially increase its power costs.

The company also raised concerns about power curtailment.

Large electricity users sometimes participate in curtailment programs to help manage peak demand on the power grid. Standard Steel said curtailment usually occurs once every few years during extreme weather, but the company experienced four such events within two months during the summer of 2025.

When curtailment occurs, Standard Steel said it cannot melt steel, which affects the efficiency of its operations.

“Adding another large consumer of electricity to the area will most certainly increase the frequency of these events and further hamper Standard Steel’s operations in Burnham,” the company said.

Kodish, in his address to the No Data Center Group, said data centers may bring private investment, add to the tax base, and create construction jobs. He also said a smaller number of skilled jobs may remain after construction.

But he said county leaders must look beyond the sales pitch and consider what such projects could mean for Mifflin County decades from now.

“Our county has always been defined by its farmland, its forests, its streams and the hardworking people who call this place home,” Kodish said in his prepared remarks. “Agriculture isn’t just part of our economy; it is part of our identity.”

Kodish said once prime farmland is converted into an industrial campus, it is unlikely to produce crops again. He said large data centers can require extraordinary amounts of electricity and, in many cases, large amounts of water to keep servers cool.

“At a time when families are already concerned about rising utility costs and protecting our natural resources, we must ask whether our infrastructure should be dedicated to supporting massive technology facilities or the needs of the residents, farmers, and businesses who already live here,” Kodish said.

Kodish also questioned the long-term economic return of data centers, saying some facilities may occupy large amounts of land and represent a major investment while employing a relatively small permanent workforce.

He said the county should welcome businesses that create lasting jobs, respect the county’s agricultural heritage and strengthen the community. He said not every development is the right fit for every community.

“Right now, the right thing for Mifflin County is the preservation of important land that could be available later for something better,” Kodish said. “Overall, I am not saying data centers do not have a place in the grand scheme of things on a global level. What I am saying is they are not wanted or needed in Mifflin County.”

Kodish ended his remarks by saying he opposes a data center in Mifflin County.

Wise also spoke against potential data center development during the meeting. His comments added another elected voice to a debate that has already drawn concern from residents, county planning officials and industry.

The issue has centered on potential data center development in Granville Township, where township officials have been reviewing ordinance language to regulate such facilities. Land-use decisions, including whether a data center could move forward, would rest with the municipality and applicable planning and zoning processes, not the county commissioners.

Granville Township said in a June 15 notice on its website that a draft data center ordinance has been submitted for the required review process under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The township said the proposed ordinance was developed to establish standards for the potential development and operation of data center facilities while balancing economic development with community character, public infrastructure, environmental resources and the health, safety and welfare of residents.

The township said the draft ordinance has been forwarded to the Mifflin County Planning Commission and the Granville Township Planning Commission for review and comment, and that the Board of Supervisors will consider it at a future public meeting after the review period is completed.

Still, Kodish and Wise said the concerns extend beyond one township because the effects could reach the county’s power supply, water resources, agricultural land and existing employers.

Standard Steel’s position adds an industrial concern to the debate. Residents have raised questions about noise, water, land use, and rural character, while Standard Steel’s comments focus on whether the region’s electrical infrastructure can support a large new power user without raising costs or disrupting existing manufacturers.

Supporters of data center development often point to private investment, construction jobs and additional tax revenue. Opponents say those benefits must be weighed against the possible effects on farmland, utilities, water resources and existing employers.

For now, the debate remains local, but the questions are broader: how much infrastructure would be needed, who would pay for it, and whether Mifflin County’s existing residents and employers would face added costs or risks.