Massive 1-Million-Square-Foot Data Center Proposed in Butler County, Pennsylvania

A sprawling one-million-square-foot data center campus has been proposed for Forward Township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, prompting concerns from nearby residents about the project's environmental and quality-of-life impact. The development, which would be larger than 17 football fields, is set to be presented to the Forward Township Planning Commission on Thursday night at 7 p.m., marking the first formal step in what is expected to be a lengthy approval process.

The land on Prospect Road — formerly known as the Misty Hollow Farmland — is owned by 614 Prospect LLC for the purpose of constructing the data center, according to the township manager. The proposal includes a dedicated gas-powered generation facility, an office building roughly the size of four basketball courts, a smaller security building, a wastewater treatment facility, and supporting infrastructure such as parking and stormwater management systems. If the project secures final approval, construction could be completed by mid-2029.

The scale of the proposal has unsettled some long-time residents in the rural community. One woman who lives and camps near the property said she was upset when she learned of the plans last week. "To be honest with you, I was a little bit upset," she said. "I've heard that this data center is going to be eight stories high. I mean, I can't believe it." She noted that her grandson lives less than a mile from the site, and that the area is a popular destination for summer camping and kayaking along the Connoquenessing Creek. "A lot of people come out here and go camping in the summertime, and a lot of people use the Connoquenessing Creek to go kayaking," she said. "I mean, they're just going to destroy everything."

Concerns about wildlife displacement and noise pollution were also raised. The resident said she worries about the local ecosystem, citing cranes, deer, and numerous bird species that nest in the area. "The cranes, deer, not to mention all the small animals — there's a lot of birds that nest here," she said. She also pointed to the round-the-clock nature of data center operations, asking how residents who work daily jobs are supposed to get adequate rest. "These data centers run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There's people that live in this area that work every day — how are they supposed to get any rest?" she said.

The proposal reflects a broader national trend of large-scale data center development driven by growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure. However, such projects increasingly face scrutiny over their energy consumption, environmental footprint, and impact on local communities. The inclusion of an on-site gas-powered generation facility in this proposal underscores the significant power requirements of modern data centers, while the planned wastewater treatment facility signals efforts to manage operational byproducts. The outcome of Thursday's planning commission meeting will determine whether the project advances to subsequent stages of review, including zoning and environmental assessments.