Cumberland County · Middlesex Township · #3189
Pennsylvania Digital (PAX-1) Phase 1B
Middlesex Township, PA · 675,000 sq ft non-residential, data center
About this project
Phase 1B of the PAX-1 data center campus on Country Club Road in Middlesex Township, with about six buildings, a security building and a private access drive. The overall campus covers 693 acres.
Official description: PAX-1 IS A 693-ACREA DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLESEX TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA, ALONG COUNTRY CLUB RD, BORDERED BY THE CONODOGUINET CREEK AND INTERSTATE 81. THE PROJECT IS COMPRISED OF THREE CAMPUSES, A PPL SUBSTATION, 3 CUSTOMER SUBSTATIONS, A NEW PROPOSED PRIVATE STREET WITH PUBLIC ACCESS ROAD "PA DATA DRIVE" IS PROPOSED. PHASE 1B SPECIFICALLY CONSISTS OF A DATA CENTER CAMPUS CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 6 BUILDINGS, PRIVATE ACCESS DRIVE, A SECURITY BUILDING, AND ON-SITE WATER AND SEWER STORAGE.
Filing history
- 2026-05-20 · #3189 · Submission · 675,000 sq ft
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Phase 1B is one stage of the PAX-1 data center campus off Country Club Road in Middlesex Township. County records describe about six buildings, a security building and a private access drive, with roughly 675,000 square feet of non-residential floor space. The whole campus covers 693 acres.
News reports say the land was earlier approved for housing that was never built. Township supervisors approved subdivision plans in January 2026 that split the tract into several data center campuses, and approved a 450-megawatt electrical substation in March 2026. Press reports describe the full project as an 18-building, roughly $15 billion campus.
A resident group called Stop PAX-1 has challenged the project in court. A judge declined to halt work but set a further hearing. No named end user was found.
What it could mean nearby
- Reports project large new property-tax payments to the school district, township and county, and several hundred jobs. These are developer-side estimates.
- A private access drive serves the buildings, but the sources found do not include a traffic study for Country Club Road.
- Opponents point to the campus's closeness to the Appalachian Trail and to the loss of open land.
- The 450 MW substation shows how much electricity the campus is expected to need.
Where it stands
Subdivision and substation approvals are reported. A township agenda for 2 September 2026 listed a vote on the Phase 1B final land development plan, but its outcome was not confirmed. Next come construction permits and inspections, and any court rulings on the residents' challenge.
- Sep 2, 2026 Township agenda listed a motion on the Phase 1B final land development plan
- May 20, 2026 Latest county planning filing for Phase 1B
- Mar 2026 Supervisors reportedly approved a 450 MW substation on the site
- Jan 2026 Supervisors approved subdivision plans for the campus
Want to weigh in? The Middlesex Township Board of Supervisors decides land development plans and takes public comment at its regular meetings; check the township website for agendas.
Who's behind it
Carlisle Development Partners (joint venture of PowerHouse Data Centers and Pennsylvania Data Center Partners) · Reports describe it as a joint venture of PowerHouse, a data center developer, and PA Data Center Partners.
Around the web
- 09 02 2026 AgendaMiddlesex Township · Sep 2, 2026Lists motions on the PAX-1 Phase 1-B final land development plan and related items.
- 450 MW substation approved for Pennsylvania Digital I PAX-1Construction ReviewReports approval of a 450 MW substation for the campus.
- Plans approved for 18-building data center in PennsylvaniaWHP580 · Jan 9, 2026Reports supervisors approved subdivision plans for the campus.
- Judge refuses to stop PAX-1 data center but sets new hearingabc27Describes the court challenge by residents and the judge's decision not to halt work.
Planning terms explained
- Land development plan
- A detailed plan showing buildings, roads, drainage and utilities that the township must approve before construction.
- Subdivision
- Dividing one large property into separate lots.
- Final plan
- The last approval stage, after earlier preliminary review.
- Substation
- A facility that steps down high-voltage power so a large user can draw electricity.
- Stay
- A court order that pauses an action while a legal challenge is decided.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $472.5M
- ~3,375 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~1,687 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)