Amazon announced on Monday that it plans to invest a minimum of $20 billion in new data centers in Pennsylvania. The tech giant needs these facilities to support its growing artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations. According to Data Center Dynamics, Amazon Web Services owned 17.77 million square feet of data center and office space globally in 2024.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration worked closely with Amazon to secure the investment. The governor’s office is currently streamlining the permitting process to facilitate the project. The new data centers are expected to create 1,250 job opportunities for highly skilled tech workers, as per Amazon’s statement. The company also plans to collaborate with state educational institutions to enhance K-12 technology education and provide training for data and fiber optic technicians.
The initial two data centers will be located in Salem Township and Falls Township. Salem Township has a population of approximately 6,000 based on a 2024 Census.gov estimate, while Falls Township in Bucks County has an estimated population of about 34,500. The governor’s office is considering additional sites for future data center developments.
The Falls Township data center, situated at the Keystone Trade Center, will be one or two stories high and is located away from residential areas. This distance is expected to mitigate concerns about noise levels associated with data centers. Amazon’s investment is part of its broader infrastructure expansion to support its technological advancements.
