Energy costs and the grid
High2.6M sq ft campus's energy/infrastructure demands a central objection; State Sen. Jarrett Coleman argued the Lehigh Valley is the wrong fit.
WFMZ-TV
All Pennsylvania projects
Withdrawn / Denied
Air Products Cetronia Road Data Center
Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County
Air Products wanted to put three data center buildings totaling about 2.6 million square feet on its former 194-acre headquarters at 7300 Cetronia Road. The Zoning Hearing Board turned it down in May 2026, and the company let its appeal deadline pass in August.
Withdrawn / DeniedTBD/UndisclosedGreenfieldLV
At a glance
The project by the numbers
StatusDenied
Building area2,600,000 sq ft
Site194 acres
Water (max)0.095 MGD
First announced2025-11-13
Target online2026
Air Products drops its 2.6 million square foot data center plan after Upper Macungie zoners say no
The number that mattersAir Products filed just before Upper Macungie's Dec. 4, 2025 data center rules took effect, and a Lehigh Valley Planning Commission member called it a 'spaghetti on the wall' proposal 'just thrown together to beat the rules.'
- Developer
- Air Products & Chemicals Inc., which owns the site, was the applicant and was represented by attorney Blake Marles. It never named a data center developer or operator. Marles told the zoning board in December 2025 that more than one data center company had approached Air Products about the property.
- Tenant
- No tenant or end user was ever named.
- Current stage
- Denied and abandoned. The Zoning Hearing Board unanimously denied Air Products' request on May 27, 2026 and issued its written decision July 6. Air Products confirmed on Aug. 11 that it wouldn't appeal, and it says no decisions have been made about the property's future ownership or use.
- Decision body
- Upper Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board
- Top issues
- Water use during a regional drought, constant noise and vibration, electricity demand and rates, backup generators, and whether a hyperscale campus could count as a 'similar use' in the Light Industrial district after the township adopted data center rules.
- Key opponents
- Residents of Upper and Lower Macungie, who packed the hearings, and State Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-16), who spoke at the final hearing and called data centers a poor fit for the Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission didn't take a side but said the plans were missing basic information.
- Key supporters
- No public supporters were reported other than Air Products, which said it filed to protect its interests as property owner and hadn't decided whether to build. The township's attorney said the township took no official position.
How we got here
Upper Macungie approved three warehouses on the site in 2023, but the Prologis deal behind them never closed. Air Products filed plans for a 2.6 million square foot data center campus in November 2025, shortly before supervisors adopted interim data center rules on Dec. 4, 2025. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission said on Dec. 18 that the plans lacked key information. The Zoning Hearing Board continued the case at Air Products' request on Dec. 16, 2025 and again on Feb. 25, 2026. On May 27, 2026 the board refused a third continuance and denied the request unanimously. The written decision followed July 6, and on Aug. 11 Air Products confirmed it would not appeal.
What is at stake
Impacts raised and open questions
Noise and vibration
MediumBackup generators and cooling systems near residential.
Traffic
MediumZoning Hearing Board 2nd hearing addressing traffic concerns.
Water
MediumLehigh Valley Public Media reports the plan anticipated about 95,000 gallons of water a day from public water. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission noted the Lehigh County Authority hadn't been asked whether it had capacity, and asked for drought modeling while the authority was asking customers to conserve.
Lehigh Valley Public MediaAir quality
MediumLehigh Valley Planning Commission staff said the plans didn't show where backup generators would go or what cooling system would be used, and didn't state the campus's total electrical load at full build-out.
WFMZ-TV 69 NewsTraffic
LowThe data center plan projected about 930 cars and 19 trucks a day, far fewer than the roughly 1,534 cars and 286 trucks a day projected for the warehouses approved on the same site in 2023, according to Lehigh Valley Public Media.
Lehigh Valley Public MediaCommunity response
Who is organizing against it
Concerned residents of Upper and Lower Macungie
Leaders: No named leaders. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-16) backed the residents.
Tactics: Standing-room-only Zoning Hearing Board turnout across multiple continued hearings, testimony entered into record, state-legislator support
Opposition to Air Products' 2.6 million square foot Cetronia Road campus, which the Zoning Hearing Board unanimously denied on May 27, 2026. Sen. Jarrett Coleman publicly opposed it.
Timeline
How it has unfolded
- 2025-11-13The LVPC's director discloses that Upper Macungie is processing an application for a 2.6 million square foot data center at the former Air Products headquarters. Lehigh Valley Public Media
- 2025-12-04Supervisors adopt interim data center rules allowing the use only by conditional use in the General Industrial and Rural Technology districts, after Air Products had already filed. WFMZ-TV 69 News
- 2025-12-16At Air Products' request the first zoning hearing is continued to Feb. 25, 2026; its attorney says the company may or may not proceed. Tioga Publishing (WFMZ syndication)
- 2025-12-18The full LVPC sends a review letter saying it can't judge the plan without more information on power, water and cooling, and that a resubmission is needed. Lehigh Valley Public Media
- 2026-02-25The Zoning Hearing Board continues Air Products' case a second time, to May 27, 2026.
- 2026-05-27The board refuses a third continuance and unanimously denies Air Products' 'similar use' request at a standing-room hearing. WFMZ-TV
- 2026-07-06The board issues its written decision, starting a 30-day appeal period. WFMZ-TV 69 News
- 2026-08-11Air Products confirms it won't appeal, ending the data center plan. WFMZ-TV 69 News
Legal record
Filings and legal actions
-
2026-05-27
Zoning Hearing Board decision
At the May 27, 2026 hearing the board denied both a continuance and the 'similar use' relief. The written decision followed July 6, and Air Products didn't appeal.
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (applicant); Upper Macungie Township · Denied unanimously -
2026-07-06
Zoning Hearing Board written decision
Written decision confirming the May 27, 2026 denial of Air Products' request to treat a three-building, 2.6 million square foot data center campus as a use similar to those allowed in the Light Industrial district.
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (applicant); Upper Macungie Township · Final. Air Products let the 30-day appeal period lapse and confirmed on Aug. 11, 2026 that it would not appeal.
News
Coverage of this project
- 2026-08-13 DatacenterDynamicsPlans for 2.6 million sq ft data center outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, dropped after officials deny applicationindustry trade coverage
- 2026-08-12 Lehigh Valley Public MediaAir Products abandons plan for data center at former Upper Macungie headquartersproject history and numbers
- 2026-08-11 WFMZ-TV 69 NewsDeveloper ends data center project at Air Products' former Upper Macungie headquartersno appeal
- 2026-08-11 WFMZ-TV 69 NewsAir Products confirms plans for massive data center deadresidents and Coleman react
- 2026-06-XX The Cool DownPacked hearing ends in unanimous denial of Air Products' 2.6M-sq-ft campusSen. Coleman opposition
- 2026-05-27 WFMZ-TVUpper Macungie zoners reject appeal for massive data center campus on former Air Products siteUnanimous denial / developer no-show
- 2026-02-25 WFMZ-TV 69 NewsPublic hearing for proposed 2.6M-square-foot data center in Upper Macungie paused until Maysecond continuance
- 2025-12-18 Lehigh Valley Public MediaMore data required: LVPC formally asks for more information for proposed data center in Upper Macungie Townshipregional planners' review
- 2025-12-17 Tioga PublishingAir Products hits pause on 2.6M-sq-ft data center appeal in Upper MacungieContinuance / 'similar use' theory
- 2025-12-05 WFMZ-TV 69 NewsWith massive data center proposal looming, Upper Macungie amends zoning with regulationstownship adopts rules
- 2025-12-03 WFMZ-TV 69 NewsPublic hearing set for data center proposed for old Air Products sitehearing scheduled
- 2025-11-13 Lehigh Valley Public MediaGiant data center proposal in Upper Macungie Township is in the worksproposal first disclosed
- 2025-11-13 Lehigh Valley Public MediaUpper Macungie data center proposal modeled after Air Products' already-approved warehouse planreuses warehouse layout
Sources
- Giant data center proposal in Upper Macungie Township is in the works
- With massive data center proposal looming, Upper Macungie amends zoning with regulations
- Air Products hits pause on 2.6M-sq-ft data center appeal in Upper Macungie
- More data required: LVPC formally asks for more information for proposed data center in Upper Macungie Township
- Upper Macungie zoners reject appeal for massive data center campus on former Air Products site
- Developer ends data center project at Air Products' former Upper Macungie headquarters
- Air Products confirms plans for massive data center dead
- Air Products abandons plan for data center at former Upper Macungie headquarters
- LVPC finds Air Products data center plans lacking ('Like spaghetti on the wall')
Know your rights
In Pennsylvania, the local zoning ordinance sets the route. A conditional use is decided by the elected governing body (supervisors, commissioners or council). A special exception or variance, and an appeal of a zoning officer’s decision, go to the Zoning Hearing Board. Each is a public hearing on a record: affected neighbors can ask for party status, cross-examine witnesses, and appeal. Municipalities can also adopt data center ordinances with enforceable standards.
Know your rights →Take action
Organized community opposition is the single most effective check on these projects in Pennsylvania. Show up to hearings, submit comment when it is taken, support legal and expert-witness costs, and press your municipality for a real ordinance. Pennsylvania municipalities cannot simply freeze applications, but a curative amendment under the Planning Code gives them a defined window to fix a defective ordinance.
How communities push back →