Turning Old Mining Ground Into Computing Power

Fit Energy is planning a fuel cell power generation and data center project in Newport Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They announced the plans on October 6, 2026, following township zoning approval for both uses in August 2026.

Engineering and the remaining permitting work are now underway ahead of construction.

The project sits on land that has already been mined and quarried. Instead of building on untouched forest or farmland, Fit Energy is putting old industrial property back to work.

Power will come from natural gas fuel cells supplied by FuelCell Energy, a Connecticut manufacturer of utility-scale fuel cell technology. They're providing the units under a strategic agreement with Fit Energy.

The fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical process rather than combustion. Fit Energy says that lets them run quietly, which is not something people usually say about a power plant.

Producing power on site is meant to reduce the project's reliance on the regional power grid.

The project includes investment in power, natural gas, water, and sewer infrastructure to serve the site. Fit Energy says that work will also add to local utility capacity and stability.

The site plan uses setbacks, landscaping, and screening to limit views from nearby homes and local roads.

Construction is expected to create opportunities for contractors, skilled trades, and suppliers over a buildout spanning several years.

Once the project is operating, it's expected to support permanent skilled positions in operations, maintenance, security, facility management, and technology.

"A project like this is most successful when the community has the opportunity to hear directly from the people building it," said Joel Leonoff, Chief Executive Officer of Fit Energy.

With zoning approved and engineering still underway, scope is being defined now. No GC is named in the announcement, so subs and suppliers should track who lands that role and be ready when buyout starts.

FuelCell Energy is already named as the fuel cell supplier. The likely opportunity is everything around the units, from gas piping and electrical work to the foundations and controls that tie generation to the data center.

Former quarry ground can also bring fill, slopes, and subsurface surprises. If that holds here, geotechnical and earthwork crews would likely set the pace well before anything goes vertical.

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