By Kathleen (Kip) P. Cherry, PP, AICP • Conservation Chair, Central Jersey Group
Amazon has proposed a massive data center along the Delaware River in Falls Township, Pa. While official filings claim a capacity of 500–600 MW, the sheer volume of proposed backup generators suggests a total power requirement reaching 1,100 MW—over a gigawatt. Spanning 3 million square feet across 10 buildings, the project poses severe threats to regional air and water quality.
Despite these impacts, Amazon’s development process has lacked transparency. Seeking approvals under the name “North Point,” the company hid the data center from the public for over a year. Officials in Falls Township failed to inform constituents or raise critical environmental questions, effectively shutting Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents out of public participation until over 4,000 people signed a petition demanding accountability.
The Loophole: Synthetic “Minor” Sources
The primary conflict centers on the project’s draft air permit with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). Amazon proposes two massive backup generator arrays to power the facility when it is temporarily disconnected from the grid.
• 79 Diesel Generators: Application #09-0261A includes 72 2.5 MW units and four smaller units (already approved and installed).
• 283 Natural Gas Generators: Application #09-0261 includes 280 natural gas units with add-on controls plus three additional diesel units.
Because grid emergencies occur on the hottest and coldest days—when local air quality is already poorest—running these fossil fuel arrays will release toxic volumes of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter. The surrounding region is already in serious failure to meet ozone standards; these pollutants will exacerbate respiratory illnesses and introduce severe health risks to nearby populations.
To evade stricter regulations, Amazon submitted two separate permit applications, artificially capping NOx limits to claim “synthetic minor source” status for both arrays. However, these systems will operate simultaneously as a single coordinated power source. Under Clean Air Act precedent (such as National Fuel Gas Midstream v. PADEP), facilities sharing the same industrial classification, located on contiguous property, and under common control, can and should be aggregated. PADEP has full authority to classify the combined cluster as a single “major” emissions source.
Demands for PADEP Accountability
The Sierra Club and local community members urge PADEP to exercise its regulatory authority and enforce the following measures:
1. Reclassify as a Single “Major” Source: Aggregate both generator arrays into one major source permit, subjecting the facility to rigorous pollution control standards.
2. Eliminate Emission Exemptions: Count emissions generated during grid emergencies, testing, and maintenance toward total permits. Emergency exemptions are unnecessary if clean power is available.
3. Conduct Comprehensive Air Monitoring: Replace the inadequate proposal—testing generators once every five years under non-operational conditions—with active daily monitoring during real-world emergency operations.
4. Require an Environmental Impact Statement: Assess the multi-state impacts on the Delaware River ecosystem. The river supplies drinking water to millions, supports endangered species like sturgeon, and cannot handle unchecked water withdrawal for data center cooling—especially alongside existing regional power demands.
5. Mandate Noise and Vibration Mitigation: Require Amazon to implement noise mitigation plans to protect neighboring communities, including residents directly across the river in Bordentown, NJ.
6. Force a Shift to Renewables: Require Amazon to replace fossil-fuel backup arrays with renewable alternatives paired with battery storage. Local institutions—such as Princeton University’s geoexchange grid and Mercer County Community College’s solar arrays—demonstrate that large-scale clean energy systems are entirely feasible.
PADEP must prioritize public health and environmental integrity over corporate convenience by reclassifying the Amazon data center as a major emissions source and mandating a transition to sustainable energy.