1 data center project in Upper Burrell Township
Who decides here: the Township Supervisors (in some larger townships, the Board of Commissioners) of Upper Burrell Township votes on zoning. The Westmoreland County Planning Commission usually reviews big projects too.
In Upper Burrell Township
Nearby (within 15 miles)
Upper Burrell Township Board of Supervisors. Anyone can come and speak.
Local votes and rules
✅ Approved
Upper Burrell supervisors approved a land development plan for TECfusions' Building J at the former Alcoa Technical Center, even with the data center pause in place. The pause did not cover this building, which was already permitted and running.
📜 Data center rules
Upper Burrell's planning commission approved a draft data center zoning ordinance in July 2026, and a newer draft was set for review in September. Drafts would keep data centers in industrial areas and away from homes.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Upper Burrell supervisors voted 3-0 to start writing a fix to the zoning law, which pauses new data center applications for 180 days. The pause does not stop work already permitted in one building at the former Alcoa Technical Center, where TECfusions is building a large data center campus.
⚖️ Court case
Two nearby residents and the group Protect PT sued over the township's approval of the TECfusions land development plan. They argue the company should have first gotten a special exception from the zoning hearing board.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Upper Burrell Township. - Go to township meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania (formerly West Penn Power) (company).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Pennsylvania.
🙋 Open tasks here
- How many buildings and how much power will be built in each phase?
- Where will cooling water come from and how much per day?
- Will a gas power plant be built on site, and has DEP received an air permit application?
- Will new high-voltage power lines be needed?
- Was a secret deal (NDA) signed with the township?
- What will the final data center ordinance require for noise and setbacks?
- What is the outcome of the court appeal?
- Will the township's Community Benefits Agreement with TECfusions be public, and what will it include?