Data center company's $4M 'benefit plan' meets pushback from Allenwood group
PNK Group has proposed a $3.7 million to $4.1 million "Community Benefit Plan" for Gregg Township, Union County, in exchange for its data center project. The plan includes funding for education, emergency services, and riverfront improvements, but it is meeting pushback from local residents ahead of a public hearing. The project is planned to be 1 million square feet with up to 300 megawatts of capacity.
PNK Group has proposed a community benefit package ranging from $3.7 million to $4.1 million to Gregg Township, Union County, Pennsylvania, in an effort to garner support for its planned data center complex. This offer, detailed in a "Community Benefit Plan" submitted by attorney J. Michael Wiley of McCormick Law Firm to Gregg Township's special counsel, Richard J. Shoch, comes just days before a crucial public hearing on the project.
The proposed data center facility, referred to as "Project Allenwood," is slated to encompass three buildings and a substation, totaling approximately 1 million square feet with an impressive 300 megawatts of power capacity. PNK Group projects that the development will create 90 to 120 permanent jobs, with an estimated annual payroll exceeding $13.5 million upon full completion. The development is planned in phases, starting with a refit of an existing building to bring 40 MW online in 2027 and 60 MW in 2028, followed by a new 514,048-square-foot Building 1 adding 120 MW by 2028.
The Community Benefit Plan outlines five key commitments: $500,000 for education and workforce development, including potential discussions with Pennsylvania College of Technology for training programs; $1.2 million to $1.6 million for emergency services, specifically for a fire truck; $1.6 million for riverfront improvements along the Susquehanna, featuring recreational facilities; $300,000 for ongoing riverfront maintenance; and $100,000 to support local youth sports. Despite these offers, the proposal has encountered significant resistance from local residents.