Keel Infrastructure Panther Creek / Carbon Node East data center (Nesquehoning)
Also called: Carbon Node East Development LLC, Panther Creek
Keel Infrastructure plans a data center in Nesquehoning next to the Panther Creek power plant it owns, which burns waste coal and tires. It needs state permits because it would disturb wetlands and streams.
Where things stand: Zoning secured; DEP held a public hearing Aug. 2026 on stream and wetland permits (comments until Sept. 5, 2026).
🕒 Latest update (Aug 21, 2026): Keel said the closed-loop cooling system would need about 700,000 gallons to fill at the start, bought from the borough, and that it would work with the borough so homes are not harmed. Its engineer said about 7,500 gallons a day of public water would be used for things like hand washing, and the firm has a permit to discharge up to 18,600 gallons a day.
What we know
- 📍 WhereNext to the Panther Creek power plant (burns waste coal and tires), near Stock Street and Lake Hauto, Nesquehoning, Carbon County
- 🏢 CompanyCarbon Node East Development LLC
- 🏛️ Owned byKeel Infrastructure (formerly Bitfarms / Stronghold Digital Mining)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromNext to the company's own Panther Creek waste-coal power plant
- 💧 WaterNesquehoning Borough public water · 7,500 gallons a day
- ❄️ CoolingClosed-loop water system (water is recirculated); first fill about 700,000 gallons bought from the borough
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many megawatts will it use? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will the power plant burn more fuel to run it? 🙋 I'll find out
- Has DEP issued the stream and wetland permits? 🙋 I'll find out
- How will Nesquehoning Borough supply the 700,000-gallon first fill without hurting home water service? 🙋 I'll find out
🔎 What we checked
- Oct 6, 2026: We checked the Delaware River Basin Commission's (DRBC) list of pending applications (August 2026): there is no application for this data center. DRBC said in November 2025 it had not received any data center applications. A data center needs its own DRBC approval only if it takes more than 100,000 gallons a day from its own wells or streams, or discharges more than 50,000 gallons a day (lower limits in some protected areas). Buying water from a water company does not need a separate DRBC approval.
What happened so far
- May 19, 2026The project engineer told planners the campus would need about 86 water 'EDUs' (household-equivalent units), a number that may change as plans develop.
- June 2026Keel said zoning was secured and site work on track.
- Aug 20, 2026DEP hearing on permits for wetlands and streams; residents raised pollution and noise concerns.
- Aug 21, 2026Keel said the closed-loop cooling system would need about 700,000 gallons to fill at the start, bought from the borough, and that it would work with the borough so homes are not harmed. Its engineer said about 7,500 gallons a day of public water would be used for things like hand washing, and the firm has a permit to discharge up to 18,600 gallons a day.
Drag the slider to compare the land before and now.
Where this comes from
- DEP hears pushback to data center · Times News · Aug 21, 2026
- Scrubgrass could become area's largest AI data center campus · exploreClarion.com · June 2, 2026
- PA DEP Data Center Permit Tracker · Pennsylvania DEP · Oct 6, 2026
- Data center work to begin in 2027 · Times News (tnonline.com) · Aug 21, 2026
- Nesquehoning planners give data plan extension · Times News (tnonline.com) · May 19, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions: Data Centers · Delaware River Basin Commission · Nov 24, 2025
- DRBC Project Review: Pending Project Status (August 2026) · Delaware River Basin Commission · Aug 2026
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