UPDATE – this morning (July 14), we received an email from Christine Bertino, in which she told us that we were showing the wrong petition and that the number of signers we reported was wrong. She referred to the one we linked to as “nullified,” yet it was active, accepting signatures, and she was listed as the creator. There were several emails back and forth, in which we attempted to clarify and were directed to the other petition she was referring to. We asked directly for the other petition, and did not receive it. She then altered the petition with the term “Null and Void” and changed who created it to her initials.

Below are two screenshots of the petition, the bottom one showing the number of signers and the zip code data, which was taken on July 11th while we were writing the article. The top one is from this morning, prior to her altering the petition.

We really have no idea what any of this means. We know she doesn’t like us, but the article was a straight news article.

So if you signed the online petition we linked to yesterday, please note that we aren’t sure it’s being counted.

A Borough of Conshohocken resident recently launched a petition asking the borough council to seek party status in connection with a proposal to convert the former steel plant at 900 Conshohocken Road in Conshohocken, which is just outside the borough, in Plymouth Township, into an almost 2-million-square-foot data center.

The first of what will likely be several hearings was held on June 25th; testimony has not yet been taken. The first meeting was utilized to outline procedural matters and allow for nearby property owners and residents to request party status. If the Borough of Conshohocken seeks party status, it will be up to the zoning hearing board on whether to permit it.

Obtaining party status provides the ability to crossexamine witnesses, present your own witnesses, and appeal the zoning hearing board’s decision.

The petition, started by Christine Bertino, expresses concerns regarding pollution and energy use in relation to the borough’s close proximity to the site.

The petition reads:

We, the undersigned residents of Conshohocken Borough, live in the immediate impact zone of the proposed 1.65 to 2-million-square-foot data center at 900 Conshohocken Road (Plymouth Township). Because we are closer to this project than most Plymouth residents, we will bear the brunt of the 24/7 cooling fan noise, gas turbine emissions, and riverfront degradation.

We formally petition Conshohocken Borough Council to intervene, protect our community, seek official Party Status in the Plymouth Township zoning hearings, and oppose this project.

The petition is set to be presented to the borough council during its meeting on Wednesday, July 15. As of July 13th at 1:50 p.m., the petition has 422 signatures. Note that less than 66% are from borough residents.

Bertino is an appointed member of the Borough of Conshohocken Authority (sewer authority), which did seek and received party status during the initial hearing.

The next zoning hearing for the data center is sheduled for July 28.

Photo – ©Hailshadow from Getty Images Signature via Canva