Local officials in Salem Township, Pennsylvania, voted 2-0 on October 27, 2026, to expand the Special Data Center Overlay district. The decision covers 4,466 acres of farmland, homes, and former agricultural properties in Luzerne County. This zoning change paves the way for the proposed Salem 3 Campus, a massive digital infrastructure project.
The project targets a 4-gigawatt energy hub, leveraging the township's existing power assets. Salem Township sits within the PJM Interconnection wholesale electricity market and hosts the Susquehanna nuclear power plant. Jack Sordoni, co-founder of the 4-3 Glennbrook Group, highlighted this geographic advantage during the public hearing. "Data centers are not a yes or no question. It's about where and how," Sordoni said. "In this case, 'where' happens to be between two nuclear towers, a massive gas plant, major electrical infrastructure and virtually unlimited fuel sources."
This is not the first major land deal in the area. The 4-3 Glennbrook Group previously coordinated a $586 million sale to data center operator QTS for the neighboring Salem 2 project. Now, 194 households are pooling resources for a potential $1.4 billion transaction. Dave Scoblick, another co-founder, emphasized the scale of the community effort. "Tonight's vote is a big step for 194 Salem Township families, but we're still not at the finish line," Scoblick noted in a statement released through GlobeNewswire.
The developers promise significant local benefits, including a $43 million Community Benefit Agreement. A key component is a $12 million micro-hospital to replace services lost after Berwick Hospital closed. The plan also commits to keeping 75% of the site as natural buffer areas and open spaces. Mike Cabell, principal at 4-3 Glennbrook Group, pointed to the long-term vision. "These families made a big decision about their land, and they made it with their kids and grandkids in mind," Cabell stated.
Despite the zoning win, the deal is not finalized. It still requires completed property contracts, power agreements, and other project approvals. The developers must also meet state electricity grid requirements set by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Executive Order 2026-05. The next phase involves finalizing these legal and technical agreements to secure the investment.