Plans for a $1.7 billion data center project in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, have officially been abandoned, according to a decision by the developer. Inch & Company, in collaboration with Eastern Land & Resources, had initially proposed constructing five data centers spanning approximately 640,000 square feet across 100 acres near Mt. Pleasant Road in South Annville Township.
The project required rezoning around 58 acres of land to industrial use, which would have been combined with additional parcels to meet the development’s land requirements. However, the proposal has now been withdrawn, as confirmed in a letter addressed to the South Annville Township Board of Supervisors.
The letter from legal representatives of 1235 Martina Drive Owner, a joint venture between Inch & Company and Eastern Land & Resources, stated, "Petitioner hereby withdraws its request", and explained that the company had "decided to no longer pursue the development of a data center in South Annville Township."
The decision follows resistance from the local community and officials. Last week, the South Annville Township Planning Commission voted against recommending the rezoning request for the project. Additionally, a grassroots opposition movement, led by anti-data center organizer Michael Schroeder, gained traction with a petition that collected over 500 signatures.
If completed, the facility would have been a major addition to Pennsylvania’s data center infrastructure. Currently, the state’s data centers are primarily concentrated in urban hubs such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. According to Data Center Map, Lebanon County does not yet host any data center facilities.
The withdrawal marks an end to what had become a contentious proposal in South Annville Township. Michael Schroeder, one of the leaders of the opposition, told Lebtown that the decision was a victory for those who voiced concerns about the project’s potential impact on the area.
For now, the $1.7 billion venture will not move forward, leaving questions about future development in Lebanon County and how it might navigate proposals of similar scale in the future. The letter’s conclusion was clear: the project will no longer be pursued in this location.
