Phila. developer seeks to build data center campus in Upper Merion Township

Philadelphia developer Brian O’Neill, founder of MLP Ventures, is proposing to build a cluster of data centers spanning over 4 million square feet in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, specifically within King of Prussia’s Renaissance Park. The projects include a 1.6 million sq ft center on Swedeland Road and a 1.9 million sq ft facility on Renaissance Blvd, among others. These proposals come as the Upper Merion Township planning commission had four such projects on its April 22 agenda, which was later postponed at O’Neill's request and has yet to be rescheduled. Local residents, organized through groups like the Hughes Park KOP Civic Association, are mobilizing in opposition, citing concerns about noise, increased electric bills, water scarcity, and the potential for human health risks and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Patti Erickson, a King of Prussia resident, highlighted that several hundred homes are less than 1,000 feet from the proposed sites, and Diann Poole expressed worries about property values and quality of life. A particular concern for residents is the proposed Renaissance Boulevard site's location on a former superfund site with inactive quarries, despite EPA remediation efforts. While Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Dave McCormick have championed AI data center development for its economic benefits, the scale of these projects has generated bipartisan local backlash, with a Quinnipiac University survey indicating 68% of Pennsylvania voters oppose such facilities in their communities. In response to concerns, municipal officials, including Upper Merion Supervisor Tina Garzillo, are revising zoning ordinances to impose stricter regulations on data centers, covering size, noise, water usage, and requiring a 1,000-foot buffer from residential areas. However, O’Neill’s current proposals may be exempt from these new rules as they were submitted before the ordinance's enactment. Statewide, Sen. Katie Muth has joined advocacy groups in calling for a moratorium on data center development in Pennsylvania. Residents from various townships are uniting to fundraise for legal representation and expert witnesses.