Data Centers in Lackawanna County and NEPA Over the last year, The Chamber participated in extensive discussions at both the regional and state levels. Please see below for details of our organization’s involvement. Facilitated a meeting at The Chamber of elected and appointed officials, along with a national commercial real estate professional with expertise on the subject of data centers. That session, held in July 2025, included officials from Archbald, Jessup, and Lackawanna County. Hosted an information gathering bus trip in December 2025 to Loudon County, Virginia, with local elected and appointed municipal officials and representatives of virtually all local media outlets, to see first-hand the area known as Data-Center Alley—home to more than 200 data center buildings. The participants received a presentation and engaged in Q&A with the Loudon County commissioner, economic development director, and other public officials, as well as an experienced data center developer. Attendees also toured an industrial area that houses multiple data centers. Offered testimony at a regional public hearings hosted by the Pennsylvania Democratic and Republican Senate Policy Committees on the issue. Commentary focused on the need to engage all appropriate entities—elected and appointed public officials; representatives of utilities; members of the public from affected communities; and others with demonstrated experience and understanding of the subject at hand. The emphasis was and is to gather the facts surrounding data center development and operations. Provided access to local media to discuss key elements of data center development with respect to the mission of The Chamber and its divisions. Through multiple interviews, The Chamber gained an understanding of direct and indirect job creation, the processes and restrictions involving utility capacities and utilization, levels of private investment, and the potential revenue impact on local taxing bodies. The Chamber has compiled multiple sources of information regarding the growing interest in data centers here in our community.
