For immediate updates on current news, also check out our North Pocono C A R E Facebook page.
Read About North Pocono C A R E and the Important Activities Carried Out By Members
Index
- North Pocono C A R E weighs in on Data Center (2025)
- Water Monitoring (2024)
- Macroinvertebrate Survey Results (2023)
- North Pocono C A R E Plants Riparian Buffers on Ash and Choke Creeks (2018)
- North Pocono C A R E Monitors PPL Transmission Line Impacts on Streams (2016)
Data Center Opposition (2025)
Special Clifton Supervisors meeting re: settlement of the validity challenge. Link to documents here. Monday, September 29th at 7pm, Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire House, 490 Main Street, Gouldsboro, PA, 18424
Check out NoDataCenter.net for the latest news and information about the proposed Clifton & Covington Data Center. North Pocono C A R E is following developments here and on our Facebook page.
How big is a Gigawatt? The proposed Data Center in Clifton & Covington townships has a projected power demand of 1.5 GWh (Gigawatt hours). This is the capacity of large power plants or the amount of energy used by a city. To put that in perspective, 1 GWh could power about 1.1 million homes for only a hour. (Source)
July, 2025: North Poconos C A R E submitted a letter to the Covington Township supervisors in advance of the July 24, 2025 public hearing to approve or deny request from 1778 Rich Pike, LLC to re-zone parcels of land from RR (Rural/Residential) to DCET (Data Center, Energy, and Technology) in order to construct a data center over roughly 1,000 acres of forest, wetlands, and rural lands in both Covington Township and neighboring Clifton Township. Read the letter here. Unfortunately, the zoning was approved in a 3-2 vote. North Pocono CARE will continue to monitor the situation as more details are revealed. Check our Facebook page for current updates.
September, 2025: (5-minute read) See the North Pocono C A R E position paper on the impact of the proposed Data Center on our electric, water, and quality of life in the northern Poconos. Additionally, a high risk of obsolescence puts the area in danger of abandonment and liability for future vacancies. This, after the rezoning and destruction of nearly 1,000 acres of rural lands. Link here for a 2-minute tutorial on why consumers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland bear the cost of these massive builds via higher electrical costs.
September, 2025: What are communities with Data Centers saying about their quality of life? Business Insider exposes the dark side and scale of America’s AI Data Center explosion in this 30-minute program on YouTube video.
2024 and Earlier
Water Monitoring (2024)
Updates on water monitoring in the Lehigh Watershed include recent reports and interactive maps from DEP and USGS. To see how your favorite stream in the Lehigh Watershed is faring …continue reading
Macroinvertebrate Survey Results (2023)
In the works: Check back here for reports from our Annual Macroinvertebrate Survey. Please consider joining us for our next survey. See our Events page for more information. For survey results . . . continue reading
North Pocono C A R E Plants Riparian Buffers on Ash and Choke Creeks (2018)
Ash Creek
In 2018, North Pocono C A R E volunteers planted 200 small trees and shrubs in the transmission line cut along Ash Creek, which will provide shade and bank stability as they mature. This was done with the permission and guidance of the Pa. Game Commission and PPL, which has designated this as a conservation area.
Choke Creek
In 2019, North Pocono C A R E volunteers planted 450 small trees and shrubs in the transmission line cut along Choke Creek. This, too, was accomplished with the permission and guidance of the Pa. Game Commission and PPL, as well as the DCNR Bureau of Forestry. We look forward to the positive impact these substantial plantings will have.
North Pocono C A R E Monitors PPL Transmission Line Impacts on Streams (2016)
In 2016, North Pocono C A R E began to study the potential impacts of the PPL transmission line cuts on three tributaries to the Lehigh River, which in turn feeds into the Delaware River. The tributaries are Ash Creek on Pa. Game Commission property in Clifton Township, Lackawanna County, Sand Spring Creek on DCNR Bureau of Forestry property in Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County, and Choke Creek, which forms the boundary between Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County and Buck Township, Luzerne County with Forest lands on one side and Game lands on the other.
The monitoring addresses the greatest concerns for these cold water streams – temperature, siltation, and other pollution.
