LebTown Exclusive: S. Annville Twp. data center developer reveals project details

Joe Eisenhauer, vice president of development for Inch & Co., provided LebTown with an exclusive look at the tentative plans for a $1.7 billion data center campus in South Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The proposed development, a joint venture between Inch & Co. and Eastern Land & Resources Co., would include five buildings, each approximately 150,000 square feet, on a 99-acre site. Eisenhauer emphasized the increasing necessity of data centers as vital infrastructure due to the expansion of computing, cloud usage, and AI, noting Pennsylvania's advantageous location for distribution and existing infrastructure. The project is currently in its conceptual stages, with zoning changes being pursued by 1235 Martina Drive Owner LLC. However, the proposal has already met with local resistance, as an estimated 60 to 70 people attended a South Annville Township Planning Commission meeting and all who spoke opposed the data center. The developer addressed several key concerns, including noise, water usage, and electricity. He stated that extensive sound attenuation measures would be implemented, ensuring decibel levels are well below township standards. For water, the plan is to use a closed-loop chilled water system, sourcing from Pennsylvania American Water, and potentially utilizing treated effluent (purple water) from the Annville Township Authority sewage treatment plant for high-volume needs, thereby avoiding impact on local wells. Electrical supply would come through Met-Ed via the PJM Interconnection, with a new substation planned. The project also includes the realignment of Mount Pleasant Road, a requirement from the township. Eisenhauer highlighted the significant tax benefits the data centers are projected to generate, estimating $13 million annually for the Annville-Cleona School District, $3 million for Lebanon County, and $750,000 for South Annville Township, without seeking tax abatements. The next steps involve approvals from the township's planning commission, zoning, and supervisors.