Limerick Eyes 1.4-Million-Square-Foot Data Center Proposal
January 12, 2026
A proposal for a massive data center campus in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania, has entered the municipal review process, highlighting the region's growing appeal for digital infrastructure amid nationwide demand driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The project underscores the critical balance communities must strike between economic development and local resource and environmental concerns.
During a conditional use hearing before the Limerick Township Planning Commission, attorney Ed Campbell, representing developer MCD 7 LLC, unveiled plans for a 1.4-million-square-foot facility spread across 192 acres opposite the Philadelphia Outlets. The identity of the eventual occupant remains confidential due to a non-disclosure agreement. The proposed complex would consist of eight main buildings—five measuring 154,000 square feet and three at 202,000 square feet, each standing 85 feet tall—flanked by two 35-foot administrative buildings. The entire site would be secured by fencing and guarded.
The scale of the project is reflected in its substantial utility requirements. PECO has committed to providing 750 megawatts of power, with on-site substations to be owned by the utility after construction. Cooling the servers presents a significant consideration. While a more water-efficient "closed-loop" system is possible, the final design is undetermined. If an "open" system is used, water consumption could reach 1.3 million gallons per day on the hottest days, an amount Pennsylvania American Water has indicated it can supply. Each building would also be equipped with 30 to 45 backup generators and a similar number of rooftop chillers.
From a community perspective, the developer highlighted potential benefits, including an estimated $10 to $20 million in annual tax revenue, primarily for the Spring-Ford School District, once fully built. Traffic impact is projected to be lower than a previously approved truck warehouse, with each data building staffed by 15 to 20 employees working in round-the-clock shifts. Campbell pledged the project would comply with the township's stringent data center ordinance, which includes noise limits of 67 decibels by day and 57 at night at the property line, mandates preserving 50% of woodlands, and requires significant setbacks and screening.
The proposal now faces a lengthy approval journey, expected to take three to five years for full build-out. Following further planning commission review, the Board of Supervisors will hold quasi-judicial public hearings to decide on the conditional use. Subsequent land development reviews will address construction details.
The hearing also revealed substantial local opposition. Residents raised concerns about strain on public water and power resources, with one noting the project's electricity draw "will have an impact on what’s available for other people." Others questioned the land use priority given area housing shortages, potential health impacts, and perceived community risk without benefit. An online petition opposing data centers in the area had gathered 153 signatures, urging authorities to prioritize sustainable alternatives.
The Limerick proposal is part of a broader trend in Southeastern Pennsylvania, where similar projects have met with mixed reactions. Last month, East Coventry's planning commission rejected a rezoning for a data center near the Limerick nuclear plant, while East Vincent Township supervisors paused consideration of a data center ordinance amid public anger over a proposal for the former Pennhurst hospital site.
Source: pottsmerc
