Pennhurst Data Center

The Pennhurst Data Center Campus is a proposed, large-scale facility planned for the former Pennhurst State Hospital site in East Vincent Township, PA. Spanning approximately 125 acres, the submitted preliminary plan outlines five two-story data center buildings, totaling over 1.3 million square feet, alongside a dedicated five-acre electrical substation.

The Pennhurst data center project is currently stalled due to a major regulatory hurdle being enacted by East Vincent Township supervisors, driven by strong local resident opposition. Residents are primarily concerned about the project's massive demands on water and electricity, as well as potential noise pollution, traffic, and aesthetic impact. In response, the township is focused on passing a new ordinance designed to create "guardrails" for data centers, including mandatory impact studies and strict limits on building height, noise, and resource usage. While the developer has submitted a preliminary plan, the township's focus is on finalizing this restrictive ordinance, with a key vote scheduled for December 17, 2025, before they will consider granting final approval, effectively putting the entire development on hold.