2 Sept 2026
Your 3 minutes is up - A Talk on Data Centers
In Your Three Minutes Is Up, Exposure sits down with residents and community leaders to discuss the proposed hyperscale data center at the former Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Big Beaver Borough, Pennsylvania.
The conversation explores potential economic benefits alongside concerns about power demand, backup generation, battery storage, water, noise, tax incentives, zoning, neighboring communities, and the public process.
We also share findings from Pennsylvania Right-to-Know requests documenting communications between Borough officials, developers, attorneys, and consultants months before Switch became publicly associated with the site.
At the center of the discussion is a simple question: When development of this scale comes to a small community, how much should the public know—and when should they know it?
Important Notes:
This is an unscripted conversation among people navigating an evolving project with information that, particularly before filming, often emerged piecemeal. It is not an attack on any company or project, but an exploration of residents' experiences and perspectives.
• Speakers occasionally mix terminology when discussing electrical demand. These are real-time mistakes by laypeople, and clarifications are provided on screen where appropriate.
• Since filming, Switch has presented a more comprehensive plan providing additional details about its project. Statements in this episode reflect information available at the time of recording.
• The discussion sometimes shifts between Switch's specific project and data-center development generally; those transitions are not always explicit.
Community Organizations:
Guests Dan and Ashley are members of the Three Rivers Motorsports Preservation Society (3RMPS), an emerging nonprofit advocating for sustainable motorsport venues, stronger relationships with surrounding communities, and recognition of racetracks' cultural and economic value.
Guests Ken and Cindy are members of the Big Beaver Alliance Against Data Centers, a citizens' group concerned about preserving Big Beaver's rural character and potential impacts from data centers and associated infrastructure, including air, water, light, and noise pollution.
Kimberly Jones is representing herself and her opinions are her own, she is not representing the Hoyt Art institute on our show, the mention of the Hoyt is simply to give the audience an idea of who she is.
And Ken is grew up on a small farm in the area and is a union carpenter.
Statements by guests represent their own experiences, recollections, and opinions. Factual claims have been reviewed where appropriate, with clarifications and updates provided on screen. Guests and organizations speak for themselves.
Disclaimer:
Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates. Statements made by guests reflect their personal experiences, interpretations, and analysis, and should not be construed as assertions made by Exposure.
Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to examine these industries using good-faith inquiry, verified sources where possible, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization.
We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing.
We are committed to correcting material errors. If you believe a factual inaccuracy has occurred, please contact us at info@ohiovalleyallies.org
for timely review and, if warranted, correction.
We encourage viewers to stay informed, engage thoughtfully with public policy, and participate in civic processes in their communities.
While Exposure covers controversial and high-stakes topics, we do so as journalists seeking transparency, accountability, and the free exchange of ideas—not as advocates for any political party, protest strategy, or legal action.
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