TierPoint Bethlehem Data Center, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

TierPoint runs a data center at 3864 Courtney Street in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, one of two data centers it operates in the city. The colocation facility has more than 25,000 square feet, including over 12,000 square feet of raised floor, backed by three redundant generators with at least 48 hours of runtime.

Bethlehem is writing new rules for data centers after city staff and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission presented a draft zoning amendment in August 2026 that would allow them only by special exception in the Industrial district. The draft would keep data centers at least 1,000 feet from homes, schools, daycare centers, parks and hospitals, cap their height at 80 feet, and require an environmental review covering karst, air, water and wildlife. Assistant planning director Craig Peiffer said the city cannot regulate utilities overseen by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and said Bethlehem is largely built out.

"We have no room for data centers," resident Bill Sheirer told the city's Community Development Committee, arguing that vacant land should go to affordable housing instead. Councilmember Justin Amann said the city should be open about residents' concerns: "Making sure we are open about that and candid about those concerns upfront is a really critical piece of this process." The draft goes next to the city planning commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, then to a public hearing and a vote of City Council.