PA Data Center Partners & Powerhouse Data Centers Clears Planning Hurdle

The Daily Dig:

A hyperscale data center proposal near Carlisle, Pennsylvania has cleared a necessary planning hurdle. In January 2026, the Middlesex Township Planning Commission recommended approval of subdivision plans for the Pennsylvania Digital I (PAX-1) project, a campus spanning about 700 acres. The subdivision reorganizes the property into multiple parcels intended for future data center buildings, utilities, internal roadways, and open space.

The project is being developed by Pennsylvania Data Center Partners, with PowerHouse Data Centers involved in the broader development platform. Plans presented to the township propose up to 18 data center buildings separated in three campuses. No land development plans or construction permits have been approved. The subdivision recommendation simply establishes boundaries required before detailed engineering, grading, and utility plans can be formally submitted.

Utility capacity has been a focal point during early reviews. Local water authorities and electric provider PPL Electric have indicated that serving the site is feasible with infrastructure upgrades, though no final allocations or agreements have been approved. The project remains firmly in the planning phase, with several regulatory steps still required before any construction activity can begin.

Project Snapshot:

• Project: Pennsylvania Digital I (PAX-1) Data Center

• Location: Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, PA

• Site Size: 700 acres

• Planned Buildings: Up to 18 data center buildings

• Developer: Pennsylvania Data Center Partners

• Affiliated Platform: PowerHouse Data Centers

• Estimated Value: $15 Billion (Initially Stated)

• Estimated Capacity: 1.35 GW

• Current Status: Subdivision plans recommended for approval

TheJobWalk Thoughts:

Subdivision approval doesn’t mean much in this age of data center builds. A lot of these hyperscales never make it through to groundbreaking. However, it’s still worth keeping a firm eye on. This phase will be driven through heavy civil engineering and utility planners. The red light will turn green when the land development plans hit the committee agenda. The project will then move fast, and more importantly, expensively.