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AI Fuels Land Grab for Power Plants
31 Aug
Summary
- Venture to acquire over 11 sq miles for data center power plants.
- Concerns rise over proximity to vital public drinking water sources.
- Local officials and environmentalists voice strong opposition.
A PPL Corp. and Blackstone Infrastructure joint venture has secured rights to over 11 square miles of land in northern Lackawanna County. The acquisition, spanning Archbald, Carbondale, and surrounding townships, is intended for the exploration of building at least two large power plants to support data centers.
Concerns are mounting due to the proximity of some acquired parcels to the Brownell Reservoir, a crucial source of public drinking water. Local officials and environmental advocates have expressed strong opposition, viewing the rapid development as exploitation.
The joint venture, known as Invitium Energy LLC, filed requests to add 2.25 gigawatts of natural gas power plants. These plants would contract with specific large customers rather than selling to the general grid, with projected in-service dates of January 1, 2033, and January 1, 2034.
Environmentalists worry about concentrated pollution and increased fracking for natural gas, while residents fear the visual and auditory impact of such large facilities. The sheer scale of data center development in Lackawanna County has drawn comparisons to historical energy exploitation.
