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Last Update: 09/22/2026 at 11:34 PM EST
Data Center Plans Face Pennsylvania Pushback
Coverage from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Inquirer.com, and others
Large data center proposals in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, are encountering sustained public opposition, detailed planning scrutiny, and unresolved questions about power, water, environmental effects, and neighborhood impacts.
Upper Merion rejected MLP Ventures’ five-site, roughly 4.6-million-square-foot plan after months of hearings, while the developer said it would appeal and separately sued township officials. A separate 3-million-square-foot proposal in Limerick Township is also drawing scrutiny over its projected 750-megawatt electricity demand and water use.
Looking Back
102 Day Timeline
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All Articles10 articles
Important
Upper Merion Planning Commission reviews three of Brian O'Neill's King of Prussia data center proposals on July 22, after township code compliance checks and resident opposition.
7/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
MLP Ventures proposed five data centers in Swedeland near King of Prussia, facing public opposition at an Upper Merion Planning Commission meeting over zoning compliance and local impacts.
5/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Upper Merion Township officials reviewed revised applications for the Renaissance Park and Innovation Data Center campus in King of Prussia on Wednesday as residents raised zoning and power-generation concerns.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Upper Merion Township rejected MLP Ventures' five-site, 4.6-million-square-foot data center proposal last week in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
8/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
Upper Merion Township planning commissioners held a crowded meeting in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on a proposed Renaissance Park data center campus amid opposition and support.
5/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Upper Merion residents challenged an MLP Ventures multi-site data center proposal at a Freedom Hall planning commission meeting in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
5/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Limerick Township held a conditional use hearing for MDC 7, LLC's Project Laurel Data Center on Monday amid protests over proposed 750 MW electricity use and 750,000 gallons daily water demand.
5/11/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
MLP Ventures sued Upper Merion Township officials in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, delaying consideration of a proposed five-site data-center development amid continued resident opposition.
8/14/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Upper Merion Township planners will review MLP Ventures' proposed data center buildout during final August 2026 hearings in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, amid opposition from more than 8,000 petition signers.
8/12/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Upper Merion Township planning officials held a Wednesday public meeting on five proposed data center projects after resident opposition over zoning and process documentation.
5/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General