Pennsylvania Data Center Boom Faces Regulatory Hurdles and Community Pushback

Springdale Data Center Proposal Delayed

Plans to develop a 180MW data center at the site of a former coal power station in Springdale, Pennsylvania, have been temporarily halted by local officials, according to recent reports. The Springdale planning commission has postponed its decision on whether to recommend the project to the city council, with sources indicating they want more time for additional studies and to gather resident feedback.

Springdale Data Center Proposal Delayed
Major Development Proposed for Former Power Plant
Additional Projects Emerging Across Pennsylvania
Major Tech Companies Eye Pennsylvania Expansion
Community Opposition and Zoning Challenges

A subsequent public meeting about the project saw numerous residents voice opposition to the development. A Change.org petition against the project has reportedly gathered more than 300 signatures, reflecting growing community concerns about the proposed facility.

Major Development Proposed for Former Power Plant

Allegheny DC Property Co. is planning to develop a 565,000 square foot data center and a 200,000 square foot support building for cooling and facility management on the 47-acre site of the former Cheswick power plant in Allegheny County, according to project details first revealed in May. The 565MW coal power plant was retired in 2022, with demolition and cleanup operations beginning earlier this year.

Analysts suggest the property, acquired by Charah Environmental Redevelopment Group in 2022, is under contract with a major international data center developer. Allegheny DC is reportedly an affiliate of US investment firm Davidson Kempner, which has backed several data center projects in Europe and the United States.

Additional Projects Emerging Across Pennsylvania

In nearby Stowe Township, also within Allegheny County, another data center could be developed on the site of a former railcar plant. Township commissioner Cheryl McDermott recently confirmed that SunCap Industries, which is developing the former Pressed Steel Car Company facility, wants to build a data center, though specific details about the project’s scope haven’t been shared publicly.

The development surge extends beyond the Pittsburgh area, with reports indicating Pennsylvania is experiencing unprecedented growth in proposed data center capacity. According to analysis from DC Byte, the state’s data center market has grown exponentially, jumping from 231MW of total IT load in 2021 to approximately 7.8GW projected for 2025.

Major Tech Companies Eye Pennsylvania Expansion

Amazon Data Services has acquired a 350-acre parcel of land in Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill County for $178 million, according to property records. While Amazon’s specific plans for the site remain unclear, the company reportedly confirmed it is evaluating development options and will present plans at a later date. Earlier this year, Amazon announced plans to invest $20 billion in data center infrastructure in Pennsylvania.

NorthPoint Development is planning a massive data center campus on 1,400 acres in Carbon County, though full details of the project haven’t been disclosed. The proposal has faced significant opposition, with two separate Change.org petitions gathering approximately 900 signatures combined. Local opposition groups Save Carbon County and the Greenfire Coalition have spoken out against the development.

Community Opposition and Zoning Challenges

The data center boom in Pennsylvania is encountering resistance from local communities concerned about environmental impact, infrastructure demands, and quality of life issues. In West Hazleton, a proposed data center development was reportedly denied due to local zoning codes that don’t specifically allow data centers as a permitted use.

Industry analysts suggest that Pennsylvania’s strategic location, available land, and energy resources make it an attractive market for data center development, particularly as companies seek capacity for AI infrastructure. However, the recent delays and community pushback indicate that developers will need to address local concerns to move projects forward.

The Springdale planning commission is scheduled to meet again on October 27, when they could make a formal recommendation to the city council regarding the proposed data center development at the former Cheswick power plant site.