Data center company kicks in $300,000 to save a Mercer County ag project
Keel Infrastructure, a company proposing two data centers in Sharon, Pennsylvania, has donated $300,000 to an agricultural learning center project in Mercer County to address a budget shortfall. This donation follows residents' concerns about the data centers' potential impact on electricity costs, noise, and water quality. Keel Infrastructure states its commitment to community investment and is currently seeking permits for its data center project.
Keel Infrastructure, a data center developer planning a $5 billion investment in two facilities in Sharon, Pennsylvania, has committed $300,000 to rescue the Mercer County Agricultural Conservation Community Learning Center project at Munnell Run Farm in Coolspring Township. The donation addresses a critical $300,000 budget shortfall for the aquaponics learning center, which faced cancellation due to rising material and labor costs.
Mercer County Commissioner Tim McGonigle praised Keel Infrastructure's timely intervention, alongside an additional $100,000 secured by State Senator Michele Brooks, ensuring the project's continuation. Keel Infrastructure's director of community engagement & investment, Amy Gonzalez, stated the company's desire to invest in communities where they operate data centers, citing local infrastructure and education support. The donation also grants Keel Infrastructure naming rights for the new center.
The data center project in Sharon has faced a "less-than-warm welcome" from local residents, who expressed concerns about rising electrical costs, noise pollution, and water contamination during April town hall meetings. Sharon City Solicitor Brett Stedman outlined conditions from the Sharon Zoning Commission that Keel Infrastructure must adhere to. The company, through director of corporate communications Amanda Ignatius, is currently acquiring necessary permits from local, state, and federal agencies, including the State Department of Environmental Protection, with hopes to break ground later this year and complete construction by late 2027.
Commissioner McGonigle acknowledged public concerns about power and water usage but highlighted Keel's donation as evidence of their commitment beyond profit-making, urging residents not to make hasty decisions. Keel Infrastructure has also previously donated to the Mercer County Food Bank and plans ongoing community engagement, including partnerships with school districts and youth programs.