QTS data center campus (Salem 2), Salem Township
Also called: QTS Salem LLC, SNA North LLC, 4-3 Consulting, QTS Salem (QTS Data Centers)
QTS, a Blackstone company, bought about 1,700 acres from 96 Salem Township landowners for over $500 million. It plans 12 data center buildings and would close some local roads. Construction is planned to start in late 2026.
Where things stand: Township supervisors unanimously approved the final master plan, lot consolidation and road closings in July 2026. State water and stormwater permits are still under DEP review. The new road still needs land development review.
🕒 Latest update (Aug 22, 2026): Developers said construction is planned to begin in late 2026.
Salem Township Board of Supervisors. We don't know yet if QTS data center campus (Salem 2), Salem Township is on the agenda. Call the office to check before you go.
What we know
- 📍 WhereAbout 1,700 acres bought from 96 landowners; plan closes parts of Market Street, Moskaluk Road and Kiliti Road, Salem Township, Luzerne County
- 🏢 CompanyQTS Data Centers (entities QTS Salem LLC / SNA North LLC)
- 🏛️ Owned byBlackstone
- 🌳 Size1,700 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromNear the Susquehanna nuclear plant; uses the regional grid
- 💧 WaterPublic (municipal) water for building needs, per QTS; supplier not confirmed in public records we could open
- ❄️ CoolingClosed-loop cooling (developer claim)
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many megawatts will it use, and where will the power come from? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will it use? Has it applied to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission? 🙋 I'll find out
- Who is the end user? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will new high-voltage power lines be built? 🙋 I'll find out
- Did township officials sign a secret deal (NDA)? 🙋 I'll find out
- Which water company will serve the QTS campus, and how much water will it need to fill its closed-loop cooling systems? 🙋 I'll find out
🔎 What we checked
- Oct 6, 2026: We checked the Susquehanna River Basin Commission's public list of water applications: there is no water application from this project. As of mid-2026, SRBC said Amazon's Salem Township campus was the only data center it had approved. A data center needs SRBC approval before it runs if it uses up (mostly by evaporation) more than 20,000 gallons a day on a 30-day average, or takes water from its own wells or streams above SRBC limits.
What happened so far
- Jan 23, 2026Planning Commission voted 3-2 for SNA North LLC's lot consolidation plan, limiting access to parts of Cemetery Road and Market Street.
- March 2026QTS paid 96 landowners more than $500 million for about 1,700 acres.
- March 18, 2026QTS said that once running, its closed-loop buildings would use public water only for normal building needs, like any commercial building.
- March 26, 2026Planning Commission tabled the updated master plan (cut from 18 to 12 buildings).
- March 26, 2026At the township planning commission, residents asked about private wells. Project representatives said the development would not affect well water.
- May 28, 2026Planning Commission recommended conditional approval; supervisors' public hearing set for June 23, 2026.
- July 2026Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the final master plan, combine 180 lots (1,700 acres) and close parts of North Market Street and Moskaluk Road and all of Kiliti Road. QTS will build a new road first.
- Aug 22, 2026Developers said construction is planned to begin in late 2026.
Local votes and rules
🗺️ Zoning change
After a court voided its earlier votes, the Salem Township Planning Commission voted a third time to recommend a larger data center overlay zone. The zone would help a third data center project move forward. Township supervisors make the final decision.
🗺️ Zoning change
Salem Township supervisors scheduled a vote to expand the township's data center overlay zone for the Salem 3 campus, a planned 39-building project on more than 4,000 acres with its own power plant. Residents went to court over meeting notice and limits on public comment.
⚖️ Court case
A Luzerne County judge ruled that the Salem Township Planning Commission broke the state open-meetings law when some people were locked out of a meeting on a data center zoning overlay. Eight residents without a lawyer brought the case. The ruling voided the commission's earlier vote on an overlay for a third data center project, called Salem 3.
✅ Approved
The Salem Township Planning Commission recommended conditional approval of a revised master plan for a QTS data center campus. The new plan cuts the project from 18 buildings to 12 but adds 100 acres. It also involves closing parts of three local roads. Supervisors had approved an earlier master plan.
🤝 Agreement with the company
Salem Township supervisors approved a Blackstone QTS data center campus planned for about 1,700 acres bought from 96 landowners. The township received a $9 million community benefit agreement to pay for emergency medical services, roads and other infrastructure, and town services.
Drag the slider to compare the land before and now.
Where this comes from
- Salem Twp. Planning Commission tables data center plan, solar facility application · Times Leader · March 26, 2026
- Salem Twp. Planning Commission recommends conditional approval of data center master plan · Times Leader · May 28, 2026
- Salem Township Planning Commission approves data center lot consolidation plan · FOX56 · Jan 23, 2026
- Developers tout impacts of 3 data center campuses; Zoning meeting set for Wednesday on 4-3 Glenbrook Group project · Times Leader · Aug 22, 2026
- PA DEP Data Center Permit Tracker · Pennsylvania DEP · Oct 6, 2026
- Salem Twp. approves road vacations, final master plan for QTS Data Center campus · Times Leader (via Yahoo News) · July 15, 2026
- Salem Twp. supervisors OK master plan, vacating some streets for data center · The Citizens' Voice · July 16, 2026
- PA Data Center Permit Tracker - all projects list (CSV behind the DEP map) · Pennsylvania DEP · Oct 6, 2026
- Meeting Notice - change of venue meeting dates 2026 · Salem Township · Oct 6, 2026
- 96 Salem Twp. landowners complete historic 1,700-acre sale for major data center campus · Times Leader · March 18, 2026
- Water Use by Data Centers in the Susquehanna River Basin - FAQ · Susquehanna River Basin Commission · 2026
- Water Application and Approval Viewer (WAAV) · Susquehanna River Basin Commission · Oct 6, 2026
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