Salem Township's Board of Supervisors voted 2-0 on Tuesday, October 27, to expand the township's Special Data Center Overlay (SDC-O) district to cover the proposed Salem 3 Campus, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the 4,466-acre energy and digital infrastructure project in Luzerne County.

Supervisors Vote 2-0 After Public Hearing

The vote followed a public hearing held Tuesday evening and builds on a unanimous 3-0 recommendation from the Salem Township Planning Commission issued on September 24, 2026.

The approval allows 194 participating Salem Township families to continue pursuing a potential USD 1.4 billion land sale involving 4,466 acres of working and retired farms, family homesteads and other properties.

According to the project's developer, 4-3 Glennbrook Group, land assemblies of this size, with so many families aligned behind a single plan, are rare under any circumstances.

"In this case, 'where' happens to be between two nuclear towers, a massive gas plant, major electrical infrastructure, and virtually unlimited fuel sources. The 'how' comes from embracing the landowners, their value and their dignity, and coming together as a community to recognize the opportunity a project like this promises," said Jack Sordoni, co-founder of 4-3 Glennbrook Group.

Campus Built Around Existing Power Infrastructure

The Salem 3 Campus is planned for 4 gigawatts (GW) of power demand, supported by new generation and enhanced infrastructure to be built at the developer's expense.

The plan is consistent with the standards set out in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Executive Order 2026-05 and the Commonwealth's GRID Requirements, according to the announcement.

The township's location is central to the project's design. Salem Township sits within PJM Interconnection, the nation's largest wholesale electricity market, and is home to both the Susquehanna nuclear power plant and an existing combined-cycle natural gas and steam generation facility.

The surrounding area features multiple industrial-scale switchyards and substations, major high-tension transmission infrastructure, and a pipeline right-of-way system with access to significant natural gas supply.

The project anticipates a closed-loop cooling approach, meaning it does not expect water extraction or wastewater disposal beyond conventional office and civilian use.

Salem Township is already a proven location for data center investment: the neighboring Salem 2 site, organized by the 4-3 team, was sold to QTS for USD 586 million.

"We're grateful to the Board of Supervisors for the time and care they put into this decision, and to everyone who came out and spoke, whether they were for it or had questions," said Dave Scoblick, co-founder and Principal at 4-3 Glennbrook Group.

"Tonight's vote is a big step for 194 Salem Township families, but we're still not at the finish line. We have a lot of work ahead, and we're going to keep doing it transparently alongside the township and our neighbors."

Community Benefits Tied to the Project

According to the announcement, the proposed Community Benefit Agreement totals USD 43 million, including USD 12 million for a local micro-hospital, something the area has lacked since the closure of Berwick Hospital.

An estimated 75% of the 4,466 acres would remain as natural buffers, green space, and setbacks. Several participating landowners have also expressed interest in using a portion of their proceeds to help fund Heritage Park, described as a world-class, year-round community park on the current Beach Haven Carnival grounds.

Construction of the campus would call on electricians, technicians, engineers, mechanical specialists, contractors, and other skilled workers, and the project could support over 2,000 estimated jobs.

The privately funded power generation and infrastructure improvements required by the campus could also improve access to clean water and energy for township residents, built at the developer's expense.

"These families made a big decision about their land, and they made it with their kids and grandkids in mind," said Mike Cabell, Principal at 4-3 Glennbrook Group. "Tonight's vote shows that decision was worth it. They stuck with this through every meeting and every question, and we're going to get this done for them in a way that benefits the community for generations."

What Comes Next

With the Board of Supervisors' approval in hand, 4-3 Glennbrook Group says it is focused on advancing the Salem 3 Campus through the remaining required approvals and realizing its potential for landowners, Salem Township and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The company has not specified a timeline for the remaining steps in the announcement.

4-3 Glennbrook Group describes itself as a landowner-first development company creating strategic assets for the energy and AI economy, with experience in land aggregation, data center development, infrastructure planning, and community and government approvals.

In Salem Township, the company previously organized the Salem 2 land assembly that sold to QTS for USD 586 million and is now advancing the 4,466-acre Salem 3 Campus.

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