In a significant move that could reshape the landscape of Lackawanna County, PPL Corp. and its joint venture with Blackstone Infrastructure have secured over 11 square miles of land in northern Lackawanna County. This acquisition includes vital areas bordering public drinking water sources and marks the potential development of at least two massive power plants designed to support data centers.
The land deal, which spans across Archbald, Carbondale, Carbondale Twp., Fell Twp., and Mayfield, was finalized through agreements signed in April and June. PPL Corp. and Blackstone Infrastructure also submitted requests to add 2.25 gigawatts of natural gas power plants to Lackawanna County. The exact location of the proposed power plants remains unspecified, but the timing of the requests aligns with a memorandum outlining the purchase of land for a "west campus" in Carbondale Twp. and an east campus extending from Archbald to the Brownell Reservoir in Carbondale Twp., a crucial source of drinking water for surrounding communities.
The news has been met with strong opposition from local residents and officials. Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, a vocal critic of data center development, expressed his frustration, saying, "Our county should not be offered up as the sacrificial lamb of the AI revolution that is occurring in this country, and it's absolutely disgraceful what's happening here."
PPL Corp. spokesman Ryan Hill confirmed the venture's intention to evaluate the suitability of the land for power generation, emphasizing that the acquisition of land does not guarantee development of all the purchased areas. "The benefit of having large sites is that they provide that flexibility for setbacks, buffers, open space, green space, other considerations for a project such as a generation project," Hill said.
Over the past year-and-a-half, Lackawanna County has become a hub for speculative data center development, with nearly 90 proposed projects scattered across the region. Despite some developers downsizing their plans, the county is currently facing a wave of litigation over multiple projects.
The PPL Corp. and Blackstone Infrastructure joint venture has also purchased over 500 acres in Luzerne County for $40.4 million, with plans to file for two natural gas power plants with outputs similar to those proposed in Lackawanna County.
Commissioner Gaughan argues that the rush for data centers and power plants in Lackawanna County is a form of exploitation, one that crosses the line between economic development and overreach. "There's a line between economic development and exploitation," he said. "They're not even approaching that line anymore — they're just stampeding right across it, and they're stampeding right over the people of this county."
Hill of PPL Corp. emphasized the venture's commitment to transparency and engagement with local officials and stakeholders. He assured that the venture will not proceed with a power plant unless there is a signed agreement with a large customer, and that any project will prioritize reliability, affordability, and local benefits.
While there have been no decisions regarding future projects or the use of the sites, the venture has filed requests with the PJM Interconnection to support potential joint venture projects. The 1,500-megawatt plant is set for an in-service date of Jan. 1, 2033, while the 750-megawatt plant is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2034.
The proposed power plants would contract directly with large customers rather than selling to the grid, though they would still be connected to the electric grid. Hill clarified that utility ratepayers would not be burdened with the cost of these developments.
As the situation unfolds, the future of data center development in Lackawanna County remains uncertain, with many local residents and officials hoping for a balanced approach that respects both economic growth and environmental concerns.
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