SUMMIT TWP — Township officials are looking to update their zoning ordinance to address the possibility of data centers coming to the region in the near future.

During a meeting Wednesday, May 20, the township’s board of supervisors discussed drafting an ordinance that would establish and define parameters that future data centers in the township would operate underneath.

Township solicitor Michael Gallagher said he has been working with his son and fellow attorney, Sean Gallagher, on giving out recommendations regarding data centers in some of the municipalities they serve as solicitors.

Some examples he gave on what would be enforced included making sure a data center has its own water supply and guidelines for backup generators.

“(Sean Gallagher) said that you wouldn’t think that the backup generator would come on a lot, but he said that at the bigger places — if it’s a day where power is being used at its peak — the power companies will actually ask the bigger places to turn on their backup generators,” he explained.

Supervisor Dave Barry said he was inspired to get an ordinance for the township due to what he has seen in the eastern half of the state.

“We went to the convention out in Harrisburg, and there were a lot of municipalities out in the eastern part of the state that are really dealing with this stuff. They’re putting it in everywhere, and if you don’t have the proper ordinance, you can’t stop them,” he said.

He added that he hopes a future ordinance will help the township have a level of control for potential problems that might arise if a data center comes to the township.

The recommendations from Michael Gallagher will also be reviewed by the township’s planning commission. Based on what the two boards want, a future ordinance could then be drafted and considered.

The next planning commission meeting is set for June 9. The next board of supervisors meeting is set for 6:45 p.m. June 3.