Data center developer holds town hall in Venango township
Keel Infrastructure proposes converting a former Bitcoin mine in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, into a 1,300 MW data center. The project, still in early phases, held town halls in Clintonville to address community concerns, particularly regarding environmental impact and responsible development, with plans for a closed-loop water system and natural gas generation.
Keel Infrastructure, a digital and energy infrastructure company, is proposing to transform a former Bitcoin mine in Scrubgrass Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania, into a large-scale data center. The company, which acquired a power plant in the township eighteen months ago, plans to convert the facility to natural gas, eliminate waste coal, and develop up to 1,300 megawatts of data center capacity, potentially with an additional 550 megawatts of new natural gas generation.
Operations Vice President Alex Brammer stated the project is in its nascent stages, with no official design yet, and a groundbreaking target of 2027 pending design approval. While a permit has not been submitted for this specific site, Keel Infrastructure is reportedly working on two other data centers in Pennsylvania.
To address community concerns, Keel officials held three town halls in Clintonville. Residents, such as Carrie Worsk, a mother of two from Scrubgrass Township, expressed worries about the potential environmental impacts on local health and wellbeing and the desire to maintain the area's peaceful character. Brammer assured attendees that the company is committed to responsible construction, aiming to minimize negative impacts on daily life. The company also plans to implement a closed-loop system for water conservation and generate its own energy to mitigate environmental concerns.