Allentown's city council approved a new data center ordinance by a 4-2 margin, adding the Pennsylvania city to a growing list of municipalities formalizing rules for the industry. The ordinance sets specific operational and zoning standards for facilities seeking to locate within city limits. The close vote reflects the contested nature of data center regulation at the local level across the country.
Municipal ordinances passed by divided councils set binding land-use and operational precedents that developers must navigate in that market. Allentown's action adds regulatory density to the mid-Atlantic corridor, which hosts significant data center activity.
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