Monroe Township Data Center Proposal (Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse, Cumberland County)

PAX-1 developers asked to pitch a data center in Monroe Township, then postponed

Developer

Pennsylvania Data Center Partners (CEO Igal J. Feibush) and PowerHouse Data Centers, the two companies behind PAX-1 in Middlesex Township. Their April 24, 2026 letter to the township, written by co-founder Andrew J. Giorgione, Esq., describes a joint venture partnership between them, and the developer told CBS 21 the Monroe Township talks are unrelated to PAX-1. No project company has been named.

Tenant

No tenant named

Current stage

No application has been filed. The developers' presentation to the supervisors, planned for June 11, 2026, was postponed; the township's June 5 notice said the project representatives asked for the delay, and the chairman said in July and August that there was nothing new. On August 13 the supervisors authorized the Planning Commission, engineer and solicitor to review the zoning ordinance for data center updates. The Planning Commission's October 23 draft would make data centers a conditional use in the Highway Commercial and Industrial districts with 300-foot yards near homes and noise limits of 50 dBA by day and 40 dBA at night.

Decision body

Monroe Township Board of Supervisors, with the Monroe Township Planning Commission reviewing the data center zoning text amendment

Top issues

Farmland, wells and the water table, the Yellow Breeches Creek and the springs feeding Trout Run, noise, electricity costs, home values, wildlife, and whether the land would have to be rezoned

Key opponents

State Rep. Thomas Kutz (R-Cumberland); No Monroe Data Center (represented by attorney Nathan Wolf); Yellow Breeches Anglers Trout Club; Ashcombe Farms and Greenhouse, a neighboring business

Key supporters

None on record other than the developers

• 2026-04-24Andrew J. Giorgione writes to the township asking for 30 minutes at the May 14 supervisors' meeting to present a potential data center at 826 West Grantham Road and 1435 Williams Grove Road. Pennsylvania Data Center Partners and PowerHouse Data Centers (posted by Monroe Township)
• 2026-04-28The township posts the request and letter and schedules the presentation for the June 11 meeting instead of May 14. Monroe Township (Cumberland County)
• 2026-05-05The developer tells Local21 the talks are very preliminary and unrelated to PAX-1, and a neighboring farm business says it opposes the plan. Local21 (WHP/CBS 21)
• 2026-05-14Residents ask for a 180-day moratorium and say the land is zoned R1, and Chairman Tim Thompson says he isn't aware of any applications. Monroe Township
• 2026-06-05The township says the June 11 presentation is postponed at the request of the project representatives, who plan to revise their proposal. Monroe Township (Cumberland County)
• 2026-06-09Solicitor Mike Pykosh says the developer represented it has an agreement for the land, which he'll verify, and advises supervisors not to take a position. Monroe Township
• 2026-06-17Rep. Kutz issues a statement opposing the Monroe Township site. Office of State Rep. Thomas Kutz (R-Cumberland)
• 2026-07-09The chairman says he knows of the presentation request and its postponement but nothing more. Monroe Township
• 2026-08-13Supervisors vote unanimously to have the Planning Commission, engineer and solicitor review the zoning ordinance for data center updates. Monroe Township
• 2026-09-25The Planning Commission's draft data center zoning text amendment is dated September 25. Monroe Township
• 2026-10-23A revised draft would make data centers a conditional use in the Highway Commercial and Industrial districts with 300-foot yards near homes and set noise limits. Monroe Township
• 2026-10-26By October 26 the township had posted that data center text amendment discussion is set for the next Planning Commission meeting. Monroe Township

• 2026-05-05 Local21 (WHP/CBS 21)'We are not in support:' Monroe Township farm opposes proposed data center projectReports the developers' proposal letter, opposition from Ashcombe Farms and Greenhouse, and the developer's statement that talks are very preliminary and separate from PAX-1.