Developer pitches $1.7 billion data center in South Anvil; residents raise noise, water and health concerns

Joe Eisenhower, the project developer for a proposed data center in South Anvil Township, presented a conceptual plan to the Lebanon County commissioners’ workshop describing five warehouse‑style buildings across roughly 98 acres and outlined permitting steps and mitigation measures. "What you're looking at there is the corner of Mount Pleasant Road and 422," Eisenhower said, explaining the site layout and that PennDOT coordination and a traffic impact study would be required for a proposed realignment.

Eisenhower said the project team is contemplating five buildings between about 110,000 and 150,000 square feet each, and that the project would be built in phases. He described an estimated taxable assessed value at full buildout of roughly $740.3 million and projected annual tax revenues to local taxing bodies — he cited about $3.4 million to the county, $13.4 million to the school district and roughly $747,000 to the township. "We're not seeking a LERTA or a TIF," he said, and added that the developer would not ask for tax incentives at this stage.

Gary McKee, the project’s engineering and operations expert, described key operational elements of data centers — large numbers of servers, cooling systems, power distribution, and on‑site technical staff — and summarized options to limit potable water use. "Our base design allows us to use no water," McKee said, while noting the team is also evaluating adiabatic cooling and reuse of treated sewage effluent to improve energy efficiency.

Developers addressed community concerns about power, water and noise. Eisenhower explained that a load study with the local utility (FirstEnergy) and the PJM regional grid process will define required infrastructure upgrades, and that the developer would cover on‑site substation and wiring costs. On noise, the team cited township ordinance standards and projected at the property line roughly 45–55 decibels for a standard data center; they proposed rooftop equipment behind a 10‑foot parapet wall, evergreen landscape buffers, and pre/post sound studies to inform mitigation.

During public comment, dozens of residents from South Anvil and neighboring communities expressed strong opposition. Concerns included cumulative construction truck traffic, the long‑term "humming" and low‑frequency noise residents said they had heard near other data centers, the potential for large water withdrawals or new piping, and the proximity of the site to schools and the town center. "We haven't talked to anybody in South Anvil that has said they're okay," one resident said.

Dr. Tom Downbeer, an injury epidemiologist, cautioned about infrasound and potential health effects. He described infrasound as frequencies below 20 hertz and said some research indicates community‑level exposure can be persistent for up to a mile; he urged regulators to avoid siting a large data center near schools and dense residential areas.

Developers responded that many design and permitting steps lie ahead at the township level: text and map amendments, an ordinance process, conditional‑use review, a load study and PennDOT coordination. Joe Eisenhower said the team is engaging with the township and conservation district and that the first building could be online about 18 months after permits are secured; he emphasized that a conditional‑use and land‑development process will be required and that the township supervisors and planning authorities have the zoning decision authority. The county chair reiterated the board has no direct jurisdiction over township rezoning.

No formal zoning or planning decisions were made at the workshop. Residents were advised to monitor South Anvil Township public meetings and participate in upcoming hearings where rezoning and conditional‑use petitions will be considered.