In a significant move that could reshape the landscape of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, PPL Corp. has entered into an agreement to purchase over 11 square miles of land, including critical public drinking water sources, for the potential construction of massive power plants dedicated to data centers. The joint venture between PPL Corp. and Blackstone Infrastructure is aiming to capitalize on the growing demand for data center power, though the project has faced immediate opposition from local residents and officials.
The land acquisition, which spans across Archbald, Carbondale, Carbondale Twp., Fell Twp., and Mayfield, includes areas bordering the Brownell Reservoir, a vital source of drinking water for surrounding communities. The purchase agreements, signed in April and June, cover nearly 7,200 acres, with an additional request to add 2.25 gigawatts of natural gas power plants in Lackawanna County.
Despite the grand ambitions, the exact location of the proposed power plants remains unclear. However, the timing of the land acquisition and power plant requests coincides with a memorandum to purchase land for a "west campus" in Carbondale Twp. and an east campus that extends from Archbald to the Brownell Reservoir.
The news has sparked a strong backlash from opponents of data center development. Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, a vocal critic of data centers, expressed his frustration, stating, "Our county should not be offered up as the sacrificial lamb of the AI revolution that is occurring in this country, and it's absolutely disgraceful what's happening here."
PPL Corp. spokesman Ryan Hill acknowledged the venture's acquisition of land rights but emphasized that this does not guarantee the development of all the purchased land. "The benefit of having large sites is that they provide that flexibility for setbacks, buffers, open space, green space, other considerations for a project such as a generation project," Hill said.
Over the past year-and-a-half, Lackawanna County has become a focal point for speculative data center development, with proposals for over 90 data centers across thousands of acres. While some developers have scaled back their plans, the county remains a hub for proposed projects, many of which are currently tied up in litigation.
The joint venture's plans in Lackawanna County follow a similar trajectory to their recent acquisition in Luzerne County, where they purchased over 500 acres for $40.4 million and filed for two natural gas power plants with outputs of 1,500 and 750 megawatts.
Despite the ongoing opposition and the legal challenges, Hill assured that the joint venture is committed to engaging transparently with local officials, stakeholders, and the community. "Our focus is delivering reliability, affordability, and local benefits," he said.
The power plants are expected to contract with large customers rather than sell to the grid, thereby avoiding market volatility. However, they will still be connected to the electric grid, rather than operating as behind-the-meter generation. PPL Corp. has clarified that utility ratepayers will not be responsible for the developments.
As of now, there are no agreements in place with data center developers, nor have the joint venture submitted any applications to local municipalities. The proposed 1,500-megawatt plant is set for an in-service date of January 1, 2033, while the 750-megawatt plant is scheduled for January 1, 2034.
The developments in Lackawanna County are a testament to the rapidly evolving landscape of data center infrastructure and the challenges that come with it. As the demand for data center power grows, so too does the need for responsible planning and community engagement.
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