Amazon to Invest $20 Billion in Pennsylvania Data Centers Amid Local Pushback
In 2025, data center development gained attention in the Susquehanna Valley, driven by Amazon's announcement of a $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania for multiple cloud computing and AI campuses. The Luzerne County site is near the Susquehanna River and a nuclear power plant.
However, local municipalities faced challenges in addressing regulations, especially in Montour County, which saw grassroots opposition. In May, Data Centric LLC attempted to purchase a 37-acre lot for a data center but withdrew due to utility infrastructure concerns.
Talen Energy is seeking to rezone 870 acres for potential data center development, facing public scrutiny. Meanwhile, Union County commissioners rejected another data center proposal at Great Stream Commons over concerns about its impacts. Ongoing projects at Great Stream Commons include a new plant by Il Pastaio, set to open in 2026.
