The development of new transmission lines, switchyards, and a substation by PPL Electric in Lackawanna County aims to supply power to data centers in the Archbald area. These upgrades are also set to improve service reliability for local residents, according to statements made during an informal open house at Montdale Country Club in Scott Township.
Residents Express Concerns
The event, which was held to discuss the proposed Archbald Mountain Project, was organized in guided tours of ten participants each. This arrangement left some attendees outside and led to dissatisfaction among community members, many of whom were already displeased with the project. “I don’t feel any worse. I don’t feel any better,” remarked Archbald resident Kim Nudelman after attending the open house.
According to PPL’s manager of transmission siting, Doug Grossman, the project is designed to serve both data centers and residential customers. “As much as we look at from a data center perspective, we equally look at it from a residential perspective, because that obligation to serve goes from the customer that we presently have, all the way to the new customers,” Grossman explained.
Data Centers Take Center Stage
Archbald is set to host six data center campuses, the highest number for any municipality in Pennsylvania. These centers house numerous servers for online computing and require large amounts of power, operating around the clock. While PPL officials confirmed the project’s focus on data centers, they did not disclose the companies involved due to nondisclosure agreements.
During the open house, many attendees donned yellow shirts emblazoned with “Stop Archbald Data Center” as a form of protest.
Potential Data Center Locations
One potential data center is located near the Jessup and Olyphant border, owned by Ercor Triboro LLC, a property of the Sansone Group. The site spans 548 acres and was purchased for $17.5 million in June. Another possible data center, known as Project Gravity by Archbald 25 Developer LLC, is located off Business Route 6. This development is planned to include seven buildings, each 135,000 square feet, but has yet to receive full local approval.
Community Engagement and Feedback
The open house served two purposes: to explain PPL’s role in the project and to gather community feedback. Grossman noted that public input is crucial for assessing potential impacts on the environment and local communities. Maps were provided for residents to highlight areas of concern.
“We have to come up with the least intrusive or least impactful route from a human environment and a social impact,” Grossman stated, emphasizing the importance of state regulations and company policy in this process.
Regulatory Approvals and Timeline
Before construction can commence, the project requires approval from the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission. If all goes as planned, the project aims for completion between 2029 and early 2030.
PPL Electric’s infrastructure improvements are expected to benefit all customers by enhancing regional reliability, potentially reducing transmission charge rates. Dana Burns, a spokesperson for PPL, emphasized the utility’s commitment to meeting the increasing demand from data centers while ensuring consistent service for existing customers.
A virtual version of the open house presentation can be accessed at www.pplarchbaldmountainproject.com/virtual-open-house.
