Data Center Census

Malvern, Chester County, PA

Sentinel / Green Fig Data Center

Also known as East Whiteland Data Center, Project Forge PA

PausedTownship stop-work order issued Aug. 26, 2026 pending Aqua water 'will serve' confirmation
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating
  6. Paused

Green Fig LLC and Sentinel Data Centers plan a 1.5 million-square-foot data center at 13 S. Bacton Hill Road in East Whiteland Township, on 79 acres of the former Foote Mineral Co. Superfund site. The project holds 2018 zoning and 2024 land development approvals, which a county judge upheld in June 2026, but construction has been halted twice by township stop-work orders. The township is also pursuing a municipal curative zoning amendment on data centers.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Site size79 acres [4]
Floor area1.5 million sq ft [3]
two buildings of about 772,000 sq ft each as approved; developers briefly offered a 536,000 sq ft air-cooled alternative, then withdrew it
Buildings2 [3]

Power

UtilityPECO (electric); Aqua (water) [1]
Backup generatorsDiesel standby generators [7]
Source excerpt
“Your responses also indicated that the proposed reuse will involve the use of materials including diesel for standby generators, oils/refrigerants, and batteries.”

Local decisions & site

Parcel / address13 South Bacton Hill Road, near the intersection of Swedesford Road and South Bacton Hill Road, adjacent to the PECO Planebrook Substation [7]
Source excerpt
“The site is located at 13 South Bacton Hill Road, near the intersection of Swedesford Road and South Bacton Hill Road adjacent to the PECO Planebrook Substation.”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Lawsuits

Residents' land use appeals of Sentinel/Green Fig approvals (2018 zoning hearing board decision and 2024 final land development approval)dismissed [2]
Judge Anthony Verwey quashed/denied two appeals by nearby residents challenging the 2018 zoning permit and the 2024 land development approval.
Chester County Court of Common Pleas
Source excerpt
“Calling it "frivolous," a Chester County judge on Thursday quashed a land use appeal seeking to halt the construction of a 1.5 million-square-foot data center proposed for East Whiteland Township. It's the second time this week Court of Common Pleas Judge Anthony Verwey has denied appeals challenging approvals”

Upcoming hearings

  • Sep 24, 2026 — East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors: Hearing to consider adoption of data center zoning ordinance amendment (municipal curative amendment) [6]

Timeline

  1. Zoning Hearing Board decision permits data center use [1]

  2. Board of Supervisors grants preliminary land development approval (Resolution 26-2024). [1]

  3. Board of Supervisors grants final land development approval (Resolution 30-2024) [1]

  4. Board of Supervisors votes unanimously to begin a curative amendment process for data center zoning, which does not affect this pending project. [8]

  5. Chester County judge denies residents' appeals of project approvals [2]

  6. Township issues first stop-work order over soil and health/safety plans; work resumes by end of July [3]

  7. Developers withdraw offer to downsize to 536,000 sq ft and switch to air chillers [3]

  8. Township issues second stop-work order pending Aqua confirmation of water availability [5]

Issues raised

  • Residents object to building on the Foote Mineral Superfund site, contaminated with lithium, arsenic, hexavalent chromium and low-level radiation [4]
  • Neighbors in Malvern Hunt cite proximity to homes and the Chester Valley Trail [2]
  • Township requires confirmation that sufficient water is committed to the project [3][5]

Sources

  1. Sentinel, Green Fig Data Center on Swedesford Road
    East Whiteland Township · Sep 2026 · government
  2. Judge denies challenges to a 1.5 million-square-foot East Whiteland data center project
    The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 11, 2026 · news
  3. The controversial East Whiteland data center project has been issued its second stop-work order
    The Philadelphia Inquirer · Aug 27, 2026 · news
  4. East Whiteland Data Center Construction Halted Over Superfund Site Concerns
    VISTA Today · Aug 1, 2026 · news
  5. East Whiteland Halts Data Center Work Over Water Approval
    MyChesCo · Aug 28, 2026 · news
  6. Cure Timeline Updated
    East Whiteland Township · Sep 2026 · government
  7. FAQ from the East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors Regarding the Sentinel, Green Fig Data Center
    East Whiteland Township · government
  8. East Whiteland will revise its data center zoning ordinance, as the public pushes back on a 1.6 million-square-foot proposal
    The Philadelphia Inquirer · Apr 1, 2026 · news