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Data center campus · 1205 Commonwealth Dr., East Vincent Township (former Pennhurst site near Spring City), Chester County, Pennsylvania

Pennhurst data center (former Pennhurst State School)

Denied as of May 21, 2026

East Vincent Township turned down a conditional use bid for a data center campus of about 1.9 million square feet on 125 acres of the former Pennhurst grounds. Also known as: Pennhurst AI.

Cite← Pennsylvania data centers
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PowerNot statedNot reported in the records found
Site125acres

Who is behind it

ProjectPennhurst data center (former Pennhurst State School)Also: Pennhurst AI
Developer and teamPennhurst Holdings (through Pennhurst Holdings LLC)
End userNot found in the recordsNot yet named in any record or credited report we have found.

The record, newest first

  1. DEP's data center permit tracker still lists the site as proposed with no permit applications received. (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Oct. 31, 2026)

  2. The owner's land use lawyer said it was prepared to appeal once the written decision issued, arguing state law requires room for data centers. (WFMZ-TV 69 News, May 26, 2026)

  3. The board of supervisors voted unanimously to deny the conditional use application for a roughly 1.9 million square foot campus. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 2026; WFMZ-TV 69 News, May 26, 2026)

  4. The township planning commission voted unanimously to recommend denial, citing zoning shortfalls; the developer said by letter it would add on-site gas and battery power. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 18, 2026)

  5. Neighbors objected after a sketch plan surfaced showing five two-story data center buildings, a sixth building, a substation and a solar field on the 125-acre property. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 13, 2025)

Conflicts and open questions

  • Size grew between reports: more than 1.3 million sq ft in the October 2025 sketch plan, about 1.9 million sq ft (three two-story buildings plus a power and battery field) at the May 2026 denial, per the Inquirer.
  • Power not reported; included on acreage (125 acres).
  • No appeal filing was found in sources reviewed; status stays 'denied' pending any court action. DEP still shows 'Proposed (No Applications Received)', which predates or ignores the local denial.
  • Evidence 'record' rests on the DEP tracker entry (ProjectID 10000065); the denial itself is from Inquirer and WFMZ reporting; township minutes not checked.

The full record

Status note
East Vincent supervisors unanimously denied the conditional use application; the owner's lawyer said it would seek review in county court.
Evidence
Primary public records
Size class
50 MW or more (tracker scope)
Map position approximate, from the reported address or area. Updated Oct. 17, 2026.