OAKLAND TWP — Oakland Township is looking to join the many municipalities in Butler County and across Pennsylvania with an ordinance addressing the growing public issue of data centers.

“It’s a pretty thick ordinance,” said township supervisor Brian Hans. “It basically gives the restrictions of what they are and aren’t allowed to do. It should have pretty extensive information in it.”

Although the ordinance is not yet public, Hans said it will be about 10 pages long when finalized.

At the board of supervisors meeting held Wednesday night, Oct. 7, township solicitor Tom Smith — who drafted the ordinance along with similar ordinances for other municipalities — urged the board to get it passed as soon as possible, referencing Forward Township’s controversial data center proposal.

“I don’t really want to drag this out because of what you’re seeing down in Forward Township,” Smith said. “I want to get this done as quickly as possible to get it moving now, which is tonight.”

Hans estimated the ordinance could be advertised and voted on by early 2027. Oakland Township’s planning commission and Butler County Planning Commission would need to review the ordinance before the board can vote on it.