Northpoint Development, a Kansas City-based real estate company, has unveiled plans to develop a 1,280-acre, 15-building data center campus in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, named Project Hazelnut. The proposed campus is located in the 3,000-acre Humboldt North Industrial Park, only a few miles from Amazon's nuclear-powered data center at the Susquehanna nuclear power station. The project is set to be developed in three phases, with construction on the first five buildings scheduled to begin in Q4 2026. The next three buildings will follow in Q1 2028, and the remaining seven will be developed in Q2 2029.

The proposal is currently under review and will be presented to Luzerne County Council’s infrastructure committee later this week. The development is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy by creating a large number of tech jobs and boosting local businesses.

Mary Malone, president & CEO of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, saying, "Hazelnut will bring not only tech jobs but also more teachers in our classrooms, healthcare providers at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton, and new small businesses like salons and barbershops. This project will help diversify the economy and improve the quality of life for everyone in the region."

Dr. Anthony Grigoli, chairman of the Township Supervisors Board for Hazle Township, shared his optimism, stating, “Hazle Township is open for business, and we are grateful to have partners at the state who are working with us and businesses like Northpoint. We look forward to seeing this transformative project become a reality."

Project Hazelnut aims to drive technological innovation and economic growth in the region. Northpoint's extensive data center business plans include 37 powered land sites across 17 states, totaling over 15,600 acres, with a total potential capacity of 4.8GW. These centers will play a pivotal role in the ongoing digital infrastructure expansion across the U.S., with the Hazleton campus poised to become a key player in this growing sector.

The Hazleton area, not historically known for large data center operations, is poised to benefit from this project, and its proximity to Amazon's nuclear-powered facility, combined with the support from state and local officials, positions it as an emerging data hub in Pennsylvania.

The development's environmental considerations and energy efficiency will be critical as Northpoint works to integrate sustainable practices and energy-efficient technologies into the design of the data center. The company is also exploring ways to leverage renewable energy sources to power the facility and contribute to the region's growing focus on green technology.

As Project Hazelnut moves forward, Northpoint Development aims to not only enhance the digital infrastructure of the region but also create a long-lasting impact by attracting new businesses, fostering technological innovation, and generating significant job opportunities in the area.