August 11, 2026

Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to see $1.7bn data center project withdrawn by developer

By:
Dallas Bond

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 However, the proposal has now been withdrawn, as confirmed in a letter addressed to the South Annville Township Board of Supervisors.

Developer Pulls the Plug

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.

Hiring for a mission-critical build? Get a pre-qualified shortlist.

iRecruit.co specializes in construction recruiting for data center, energy, and advanced-manufacturing projects — project managers, MEP coordinators, commissioning leads, and more. We pre-screen every candidate so only qualified professionals reach your hiring team.

Get Started

Success-based pricing · 90-day replacement credit · No upfront fee on single roles

Regional Data Center Landscape

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.

Local Pushback Ends the Proposal

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.

Read the source

Keywords:
Lebanon County,data center,Inch & Company,rezoning,Pennsylvania
Free Download

Data Center Construction Labor Trends in 2026

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More mission critical construction news

MEP Electrical Engineer Salary 2026
August 13, 2026

MEP Electrical Engineer Salary 2026

2026 pay benchmarks for MEP electrical engineers: base ranges, sector and regional premiums, and skills that raise total compensation.
Cost to Build a Tier 3 vs. Tier 4 Data Center
August 13, 2026

Cost to Build a Tier 3 vs. Tier 4 Data Center

Compare 2026 U.S. build costs, uptime, and schedules: Tier 3 ~$9–14M/MW vs Tier 4 ~$14–22M/MW; Tier 4 adds redundancy, cooling, and testing.
Data Center Commissioning Cost: Budgeting Cx by Level
August 13, 2026

Data Center Commissioning Cost: Budgeting Cx by Level

Budget commissioning by level, not size; expect 0.25%–3% of construction cost and itemize Cx labor, load banks, OEM support, and retest reserve.
Subfab Construction & Service Costs Explained
August 13, 2026

Subfab Construction & Service Costs Explained

Treat subfab construction and service as one budget—plan for deep structure, dense MEP, tight access, and 20–30% spare capacity early.