Stonebridge Proposes $15B Data Center Campus on Former Dynamite Factory Site in Pennsylvania

A major data center campus is being proposed for the site of a former dynamite factory in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, signaling the continued expansion of the digital infrastructure market in the state. Maryland-based developer Stonebridge Associates has filed preliminary planning applications with local officials to build a 16-building data center complex on the 569-acre Powder Mills Site, located off Route 551. The property, which straddles North Beaver and Mahoning Townships, was previously owned by American Cyanamid and used for manufacturing explosives, including nitroglycerine-based dynamite, before closing in 1972. The developer now aims to transform the brownfield into a hyperscale-ready data center hub.

According to the application, Stonebridge plans to construct 16 data center buildings along with an on-site electricity substation. While the proposed IT capacity has not been disclosed, the company stated that utility firm Penn Power will supply electricity to the campus. The developer indicated it intends to invest more than $15 billion in the project, a figure that suggests the campus is designed for hyperscale operations. Stonebridge said the development would create between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs during construction and in permanent roles, with the build-out expected to take up to six years. The campus could potentially utilize grey water recycled at the nearby Mahoning sewer plant. However, significant remedial work will be required on the land due to its previous industrial use before construction can begin.

Interest in the proposed data center has stirred local debate in recent weeks. A petition against the scheme has gathered 170 signatures as of this writing. To address community concerns, a public meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 20, allowing residents to engage directly with the developers. If preliminary planning permission is granted, Stonebridge will need to return with detailed plans for final approval from local officials. Stonebridge Associates, traditionally a residential and commercial property developer, has recently expanded into the data center sector and is also planning a campus in Fort Meade, Florida. The proposal adds to a growing wave of data center developments in Pennsylvania, which has become a hotbed for digital infrastructure investment in recent months.