Philadelphia Names Two Possible Data Center Sites as Opposition Builds
Philadelphia officials have named two areas as possible sites for data centers, one in Northeast Philadelphia and one in Grays Ferry, though no formal proposals had been filed as of September 15, 2026. TechCrunch
The announcement drew a quick response. Protesters in Philadelphia called on city leaders to block data center development, according to September 14 reporting. WHYY Nationally, a majority of Americans oppose data center building near them, often over environmental and energy concerns. TechCrunch
Attention is focused on Grays Ferry in Southwest Philadelphia, next to what was then the largest oil refinery on the East Coast, which shut down after an explosion in 2019. TechCrunch The now-closed Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery processed up to 335,000 barrels of crude oil per day. TechCrunch
The South Philadelphia refinery complex was the city's largest single-site source of several air pollutants, including fine particles known as PM2.5 and sulfur dioxide, or SO2. City of Philadelphia PESRM owns the former complex at 3144 Passyunk Ave in Philadelphia. City of Philadelphia The planned closures of that refinery and Hahnemann were expected to affect more than 3,500 workers in the region. City of Philadelphia
Shawmar Pitts, a lifelong Grays Ferry resident, is the managing co-director of Philly Thrive. TechCrunch Pitts is helping lead the push for a moratorium, a formal pause, on data centers in Philadelphia. TechCrunch
What happens to the old refinery land is still disputed. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's public schedule for May 6, 2026 included joining a groundbreaking for a cancer research facility at the former refinery site in South Philadelphia. City of Philadelphia Urban planners and neighborhood leaders wanted remediation, or cleanup of past pollution, to go beyond the current plan. Inside Climate News
The dispute extends beyond the city. Residents in Upper Merion Township opposed plans to build massive data centers in King of Prussia. NBC Philadelphia At the federal level, critics said a U.S. EPA proposal could make it harder for local residents to learn about proposed data centers or comment on them. AP
The broader context here is familiar to anyone who has followed large infrastructure. Siting a large power user now combines grid interconnection, meaning access to enough electricity, liability for polluted brownfield land, air permits, and city zoning in one negotiation. Communities with a history of living next to pollution read those talks differently than newer suburbs.
In my view, Philadelphia shows why early transparency matters more than polished renderings. With no formal proposals filed, officials and developers still have room to define monitoring, cleanup standards, and community benefits before positions harden. That window does not stay open long once power requests and land options lock in.
Looking at what this enables if handled well, former industrial parcels that already have power lines and industrial zoning could host computing capacity without opening new untouched land. The outcome will turn on whether cleanup, emissions tracking, and public comment stay enforceable and clear to the people who live next to the fence.
