Pennsylvania developer offers 4,500 households $10,000 each; locals still say no

A Pennsylvania developer is offering an unusually large financial incentive to win support for a proposed artificial intelligence data centre campus, but many residents say the money is not worth the potential cost to their community. NorthPoint Development has proposed Project Hazelnut, a data centre campus covering roughly 1,300 acres in Hazle Township, in the Pocono foothills. As part of a broader community-benefits package, the company says about 4,500 eligible households would each receive $10,000 if the project is approved and reaches the required stage. That would put the direct household fund at about $45 million. Despite the offer, residents have raised concerns about noise, light pollution, property values, energy demand, water use and the long-term impact of the development.NorthPoint's $10,000 offer to residentsNorthPoint announced its direct resident grant programme as part of a wider package linked to Project Hazelnut. The company says it has set aside $45 million to provide $10,000 to every eligible Hazle Township household. Residents would be free to use the money as they choose, although NorthPoint says it could help with home maintenance, improvements, landscaping...