People can learn more about a planned data center in Upper Burrell during a meeting this month.

Florida-based data center developer TECfusions will host an informational meeting Jan. 26 at the township building, 3735 Seventh Street Road.

“We’re planning to present the project and answer questions,” said Melissa Farney, TECfusions spokeswoman.

TECfusions acquired a 1,395-acre site at the former Alcoa Research Center in December 2024 to develop a data center.

Data centers are large facilities that house equipment such as computer servers, storage systems and networking devices for companies and organizations.

Data centers are beginning to pop up throughout Western Pennsylvania. Springdale Council recently gave preliminary approval for a data center at the former Cheswick Generating Station; plans also have been pitched in Homer City and Stowe Township.

The Springdale plan was met with criticism and resistance from the community.

Farney said TECfusions has heard none of that for its plans in Upper Burrell.

“We’re building a bit differently,” Farney said. “We’re adapting a shuttered plant that’s currently not serving the economy locally. If we have to have data centers and AI — it is a national security need, an economic development need — if we’re going to build, then we should do it the right way.”

TECfusions plans to use natural gas already available at the site to power the center. Only about 280 megawatts of power would be supplied by West Penn Power, she said.

TECfusions officials said previously they do not plan to use water to cool computers, instead relying on methods like air cooling, fan walls and liquid-to-chip. Cool-down methods are dependent on specifications from a tenant.

“We’re trying to do this in the most sustainable way possible,” Farney said.

When fully built out, the site could hold 3 gigawatts of power — which is about three times more power than the Three Mile Island power plant near Harrisburg could generate. Officials have given a 20-year timeline for that plan.

TECfusions also operates data centers in Clarksville, Va., and Tuscon, Ariz.

At the Upper Burrell site, TECfusions is working through a $2 million grant it was awarded in 2024 from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

Farney said Pennsylvania is supportive of data centers moving into the state. The state has a lot of fiber infrastructure and available power sources, like natural gas, she said.

“As a state, they’ve done a lot to show they’re happy and welcoming for Pennsylvania to be a site for data centers,” she said. “I think people are excited to see more economic development that adds and contributes to local jobs and local revenue.”

Upper Burrell Supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III said he is supportive of TECfusions’ plans. He said the township encouraged TECfusions to hold the public informational meeting.

Walker said he is interested in learning more about the site’s construction, how many people will be employed and what, if any, impact there will be on the environment.

“This may increase our employees, which may increase local services tax coming to us,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing. And it’s located in one part of the township where it’s not a bother: It’s in the industrial part of the township. We’re so excited to learn about it.”

He called the site the “most ideal location” because it’s away from residential areas and near natural gas wells.

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