Scranton Materials data center campus (Ransom Township)
Also called: 819 Newton Road
A quarry company asked Ransom Township to rezone about 180 acres for a six-building data center campus. Supervisors said no in January 2026. The company is appealing in county court.
Where things stand: Supervisors denied the zoning change in Jan. 2026. The developer appealed and also filed a second lawsuit, and that lawsuit is still going. Not final.
🕒 Latest update (Sept 3, 2026): News reports said the developer's second lawsuit (asking a judge to rule on the zoning) was still going. The plan is six data centers on the 251-acre quarry.
What we know
- 📍 Where819 Newton Road (quarry land zoned for open space and conservation), Ransom Township, Lackawanna County
- 🏢 CompanyScranton Materials LLC
- 🌳 Size251 acres
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- What will the court decide? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much power and water would it use? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Jan 21, 2026Supervisors denied a data center zoning overlay for the quarry property.
- March 2026Developer appealed to the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas.
- June 2026Judge ruled that an opposing resident has standing in the case.
- Sept 3, 2026News reports said the developer's second lawsuit (asking a judge to rule on the zoning) was still going. The plan is six data centers on the 251-acre quarry.
Local votes and rules
📜 Data center rules
Ransom Township supervisors passed a 40-page data center ordinance. Data centers are allowed only as a conditional use in two manufacturing zones, near the Taylor border and along the Susquehanna River, with limits on height, noise and more.
📜 Data center rules
Ransom Township scheduled a public hearing on a Data Center Land Use Ordinance. It would allow data centers only as a conditional use in two manufacturing zones, with rules on noise, water, generators, and removal when a data center closes.
⚖️ Court case
Scranton Materials appealed Ransom Township's rejection to county court. The company argues the township's zoning illegally leaves no place for data centers.
✋ Turned down
Ransom Township supervisors voted 2-1 to reject a request to change zoning for a six-building data center at a 251-acre quarry on Newton Road. They said the developer, Scranton Materials, did not give enough testimony or evidence.
Drag the slider to compare the land before and now.
Where this comes from
- Data centers: Ransom Twp. denies zoning amendment request after resident's lawyer points out flaws · WVIA · Jan 21, 2026
- Scranton Materials appeals Ransom Twp. denial of data center zoning change · The Times-Tribune (via Yahoo News) · March 2026
- Future of Ransom Twp. property uncertain as developer says 'no plans' for data center campus · WVIA · July 27, 2026
- 22 regional data center projects and where they stand · The Times-Tribune · Sept 18, 2026
- Amid development, Ransom Twp. officials look toward data center ordinance · The Times-Tribune (via Yahoo News) · Sept 3, 2026
- PA Data Center Permit Tracker - all projects list (CSV behind the DEP map) · Pennsylvania DEP · Oct 6, 2026
- PA DEP Data Center Permit Tracker · Pennsylvania DEP · Oct 6, 2026
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