BREAKING BIG NEWS!!: DNREC Says That Proposed Data Center Violates Coastal Zone Act
Reader Drew Knox (hmmm, Drew Knox–I wonder…Sen. Andy Knox was a key proponent, and sponsor, of The Coastal Zone Act) beat me to it. But it is, in fact, true. From the Spotlight Delaware report:
Delaware’s environmental agency ruled Wednesday morning that a plan for a massive data center near Delaware City is not allowed under the state’s Coastal Zone Act.
This decision could stop the project from moving forward entirely, unless developer Starwood Digital Ventures wins an appeal or makes major changes to its design.
The Delaware General Assembly passed the Coastal Zone Act in 1971 to protect the state’s coastal areas from the impacts of heavy industry.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) decided that the proposed data center near Delaware City, dubbed Project Washington, is not allowed under the law primarily because of its diesel generators.
The data center plan calls for 516 backup diesel generators that would operate in the case of a power outage. They would together need 2.5 million gallons of stored diesel, which DNREC Secretary Gregory Patterson called “entirely unprecedented” in his ruling.
“The large tank farm that is incorporated into this proposal will pose exactly the types of risks that justify the categorical exclusion of such a tank farm from the Coastal Zone,” Patterson wrote.
The most backup generators currently at a facility in the Coastal Zone is eight, he wrote.
A major shout-out to DNREC Secretary Patterson. And, yes, to the Governor who appointed him.
Personal to James Maravelias and Tim Sheldon–Elections have consequences. Especially when you engage in smarmy tactics.
Oh, well, you can always trundle your giant rat down to Dover, for whatever good it’ll do ya.
Poor Tim “Blockhead” Sheldon might do well to watch his council seat – rumor has it the buzzards are circling.
Bring them on, I hear that every 4 years since 2004. Maybe you will be my opponent ?
Funny this got your attention – you’ve ignored every email we have sent you over the past 10 years. If I were you, I’d spend more time on basic constituent services and less time browsing political blogs. Face it, you name recognition is in the tank, and the only memorable thing you’ve done in the past year is make a rude gesture at a council meeting.
I don’t need to run myself – but seeing as you can’t bring home the bacon for the trades, you aren’t hot shit anymore. Even they know when its time to stop throwing good money after bad.
Fact is, ABC has their own people that would like to get a deeper foothold in the council, and they actually know how to work.
Browsing political blogs can make you smarter.
But not always.
Relax Tiny Tim you’re good til ’08 but its gonna be a whole lot less fun for ya after November, cheers!
Poor Tim and Jim….2 guys that don’t see their time has passed….
The conclusion of the report:
The same stupid bullshit from the same asshole lawmakers. Here’s Stephanie Hansen’s statement:
“Given the growing emphasis on technology and artificial intelligence, it’s clear that data centers are here to stay – and it’s up to us to implement meaningful regulations that balance economic opportunity with energy affordability and reliability.”
Emphasis mine.
Wake the fuck up, lawmakers! There is no “economic opportunity” here. It will create, at most, 100 permanent jobs. You’ll sell out the entire state’s population for 100 jobs? What the fuck is wrong with y’all?
Can we put a data center at the port so we can watch 2 boondoggles eat each other like 2 black holes colliding?
Times like this I regret not having a like button.
Thanks for the callout to my dad. You may be good at history; or maybe not as young as you look. In any case, the foresight of the Coastal Zone Act lives on.
Alby has already pounded the point I want to make but let’s keep going. Landing a site for data centers is a grifter’s game: they bring a need for massive consumption of electricity and water, with noise pollution, while asking for tax breaks, land, and even NDAs. All that for the promise of jobs — JOBS! Oh and AI. If that’s a guarantee of financial success, then, minimally, make them pay appropriately for their high usage (and intrusion) and make sure there’s a fund to pay for cleaning up their mess when they leave.
I’m not young, although I MAY be younger than I look. At least, that’s what the ladies tell me…
Sen. Knox was in the Senate when I worked there. He was definitely an ardent defender of the Coastal Zone during that time. That, to put it mildly, was a different Republican Party than we have now.