The Pocono Mountains region, long celebrated for its natural beauty, waterfalls, and reputation as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World,” is facing a dramatic transformation. A wave of massive data center proposals is sweeping through Monroe, Pike, Wayne, Carbon, Lackawanna, and Luzerne counties. But exactly how many data centers are we talking about? Let’s try to count them—and then discuss whether this is progress or peril.

The Current Count: Proposed and Planned Data Centers in NEPA

Based on recent reports and public documents, here’s what we’ve identified:

Confirmed/Active Proposals:

1. Clifton & Covington Townships (Lackawanna County) – “Project Gold/Gouldsboro”

• Developer: 1778 Rich Pike LLC (Doylestown)
• Scale: 25-34 buildings across approximately 1,000 acres
• Power Demand: Up to 1,500 megawatts
• Status: Legal challenge filed; zoning battles ongoing
• Controversy Level: Extreme—hundreds of residents in opposition

2. Hazle Township (Luzerne County) – “Project Hazelnut”

• Developer: NorthPoint Development (Kansas City)
• Scale: 15 buildings across 1,280 acres in Humboldt North Industrial Park
• Status: Recently REJECTED unanimously by Hazle Township Board of Supervisors (November 2025)
• Notes: Despite rejection, developer sought tax breaks and had three-phase construction planned through 2029

3. Salem Township (Luzerne County) – Amazon Web Services

• Developer: Amazon/AWS
• Scale: 15-building campus expansion next to Susquehanna nuclear power station
• Status: Under construction/approved; AWS purchased existing Talen Energy data center
• Power Source: Nuclear-powered (directly connected to plant)
• Investment: Part of Amazon’s $20 billion Pennsylvania data center investment

Townships Preparing with Zoning Ordinances (Potential Sites):

Multiple Pocono townships have adopted or are working on data center zoning regulations, suggesting they anticipate proposals:

4. Coolbaugh Township (Monroe County) – Ordinance adopted
5. Jackson Township (Monroe County) – Ordinance adopted
6. Chestnuthill Township (Monroe County) – Ordinance adopted
7. Polk Township (Monroe County) – Ordinance adopted
8. Kidder Township (Carbon/Luzerne) – Working on ordinance
9. Tobyhanna Township (Monroe/Wayne) – Working on ordinance
10. Smithfield Township (Monroe) – Working on ordinance
11. Tunkhannock Township (Monroe/Wyoming) – Ordinance approved
12. Dorrance Township (Luzerne County) – Early zoning discussions; no formal proposal yet

Broader NEPA Region:

13-15. Archbald (Lackawanna County) – Three major proposals mentioned:

• Wildcat Ridge
• Project Gravity
• Archbald Data & Energy Center

16. Upper Mount Bethel Township (Northampton County – Lehigh Valley edge)

• Rumored to be part of River Pointe Logistics Center
• Zoning ordinance change proposed

The Challenge: Many More May Be Coming

Here’s where counting gets difficult. Pennsylvania has approximately 71 data centers statewide currently operating, but the growth is explosive. The state ranks third nationally for proposed data centers. With Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration actively promoting Pennsylvania as a data center hub and fast-tracking permits, the number of proposals continues to climb.

Conservative Estimate: 16+ Identified Projects/Sites

Based on publicly available information, we can confirm at least 16 specific data center proposals or prepared sites across the NEPA/Poconos region, with 3 major confirmed projects and 13+ municipalities either facing proposals or preemptively adopting regulations.

However, the actual number is likely much higher because:

• Many developers sign non-disclosure agreements
• Early-stage negotiations happen privately
• Townships may be approached without public knowledge until formal proposals are filed
• Some developers operate through multiple LLCs, obscuring the total picture

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The Great Data Center Debate: Progress or Problem?

Now comes the harder question: Is this wave of data centers good or bad for the Poconos? The answer depends on who you ask.

The PRO-Data Center Arguments:

1. Economic Development & Tax Revenue Proponents argue data centers will bring substantial financial benefits:

• The Clifton/Covington project alone could generate $60-85 million annually in tax revenue for townships, school districts, and the county
• Project Hazelnut promised millions in annual tax revenue for Hazle Township
• These facilities require minimal government services compared to residential development

2. High-Paying Jobs

• Data centers employ specialized technical workers earning good salaries
• Construction jobs during building phases (400-500 workers per large campus)
• Support jobs: electricians, plumbers, HVAC specialists, security
• Indirect jobs in local businesses serving workers

3. Infrastructure Improvements

• Developers invest in upgrading electrical grid infrastructure
• PPL claims these investments strengthen the system for all utility customers
• New roads and water/sewer improvements benefit broader community

4. Technology Hub Development

• Positions Pennsylvania as an AI and technology leader
• Attracts other tech companies and investments
• Creates a skilled workforce that can support future innovation
• Federal and state support (Trump administration backing AI acceleration)

5. Better Than Warehouses

• Unlike the warehouse boom that preceded them, data centers generate minimal truck traffic
• No odors or significant air pollution from operations
• Quieter than industrial facilities (proponents claim noise equivalent to “dull conversation”)

The ANTI-Data Center Arguments:

1. Massive Energy Consumption This is the biggest concern:

• Data centers currently use 3% of Pennsylvania’s energy; projected to reach 6.7-12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028
• The Clifton/Covington project alone demands 1,500 megawatts—equivalent to powering a small city
• Strain on electrical grid could lead to higher electricity rates for all residents
• PJM Interconnection (regional grid manager) has cited data centers as a primary cause of grid strain
• Backup diesel generators add to concerns about emissions and noise

2. Water Usage & Environmental Impact

• Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons of water per day for cooling
• Risk of depleting local aquifers and groundwater supplies
• Many Pocono residents rely on private wells—will these go dry?
• Projects often target forested land with Exceptional Value streams and wetlands
• Destruction of habitat and wildlife corridors

3. Limited Job Creation

• Data centers are highly automated and don’t create many permanent jobs
• Most positions require specialized technical skills not available locally
• Construction jobs are temporary (1-2 years per building)
• Jobs-to-acres ratio is terrible compared to other development

4. Quality of Life Degradation Residents fear:

• Industrial noise from cooling systems and generators (24/7 operation)
• Light pollution from facilities
• Loss of rural character and natural beauty
• Increased traffic during construction
• Potential for 100-240 foot tall power transmission towers
• Nuclear power concerns (small modular reactors proposed in some ordinances)

5. Loss of Local Control

• Pennsylvania law requires municipalities to allow “every lawful land use” somewhere within borders
• Developers can legally challenge zoning ordinances as “exclusionary”
• State legislation (Senate Bill 939) could transfer land use authority from local municipalities to energy boards
• Townships that wait too long to adopt regulations lose the ability to control where data centers go
• Residents feel bulldozed by developers and pressured by state government

6. Unequal Distribution of Burdens

• The Clifton/Covington proposal would put power generation and sewage treatment in Covington Township while data centers are in Clifton
• Environmental impacts (noise, water usage, cleared forests) affect neighbors who see no financial benefit
• Tax revenue goes to townships where facilities are sited, but grid strain and electricity rate increases affect the entire region

7. Risk vs. Reward

• Technology industry is volatile—what happens if AI bubble bursts?
• Buildings could become obsolete as technology changes
• Community stuck with industrial sites if companies abandon projects
• Ratepayers could be on the hook for costly grid upgrades if projects fail

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The Real Questions: What Do YOU Think?

This isn’t a simple “good vs. bad” issue. The Poconos region is at a crossroads, and the decisions made now will shape the character of these communities for generations.

Consider these questions:

1. Is the financial benefit worth the environmental cost? Are millions in tax revenue worth sacrificing forested land, potentially draining aquifers, and industrializing rural areas?
2. Who really benefits? Will the tax revenue translate into better schools and services, or will most benefits flow to developers and tech companies while residents pay higher electricity bills?
3. Can the region maintain its identity? The Poconos’ economy has long depended on natural beauty attracting tourists. Can data centers coexist with the region’s brand, or will they drive away the visitors who sustain local businesses?
4. Should local communities have the final say? Is it fair for state government to override local zoning to fast-track data centers? Or does Pennsylvania’s economic future require a top-down approach?
5. What happens if we say no? If the Poconos reject data centers, will they be built elsewhere in Pennsylvania anyway? Are we better off getting tax revenue from facilities that will be built somewhere regardless?
6. Are we being used? Some residents suspect townships are being targeted because they’re seen as easier to push around than wealthier suburban communities. Is this environmental injustice?
7. What about the alternative? Without data centers, what other economic development options exist for struggling rural townships? Are critics offering viable alternatives, or just saying “no”?

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The Bottom Line: Community Voice Matters

What’s clear from the packed township meetings, the hundreds of opposed residents, the rejected proposals, and the ongoing legal battles is that communities are not passive observers in this data center boom.

Hazle Township’s unanimous rejection of Project Hazelnut in November 2025 shows that residents can successfully push back when they organize and speak up. Clifton Township’s resistance has stalled the massive Gouldsboro project. Multiple Pocono townships have adopted protective zoning ordinances to maintain control.

But the pressure isn’t going away. Governor Shapiro is actively recruiting more data centers. The Trump administration is accelerating AI development. The tech industry sees Pennsylvania—and specifically the Poconos—as prime territory.

So now it’s your turn to weigh in:

• Should the Poconos embrace data centers as economic engines for the 21st century?
• Should we protect our forests, water, and rural character at all costs?
• Is there a middle ground—allowing some development in industrial areas while protecting residential and conservation zones?
• What role should state government play versus local communities?

Share your thoughts. Attend township meetings. Read proposed ordinances. Contact your supervisors and state representatives.

The future of the Poconos is being decided right now—and your voice deserves to be heard.

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What’s your take? Pro-data center, anti-data center, or somewhere in between? Let us know in the comments.

Have information about data center proposals we missed? Email us with details and we’ll update this article.