As debate continues over the proposed Allenwood data center project, one issue deserves far more public attention: several proposed high-voltage transmission line routes appear to pass directly through Pennsylvania State Game Lands in Lycoming County.

For many residents, these lands are not empty space on a map. They are public lands held in trust for all Pennsylvanians, places where families hunt, hike, and enjoy the outdoors. Sportsmen and conservationists have spent generations helping preserve them through license fees, taxes, and conservation efforts. They were never intended to become industrial utility corridors serving private development.

These transmission lines would bring permanent clearing of forested land, heavy construction activity, access roads, and ongoing maintenance corridors into areas valued for wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation. The impact would extend well beyond Gregg Township and directly affect public lands used by people throughout Lycoming County and the region.

Before irreversible decisions are made, the public deserves complete transparency about the long-term environmental impacts, habitat disruption, and whether less damaging alternatives were seriously considered.

Regardless of where someone stands on the data center itself, we should all be able to agree that Pennsylvania’s State Game Lands deserve careful protection and public scrutiny before they are transformed to support large-scale industrial infrastructure.

Sincerely,

Matthew DeWire

Allenwood, PA