Last week, the PA Chamber hosted a free webinar exploring how modern engineering and planning can ensure that data center development occurs in a smart, environmentally responsible way. The webinar featured presentations from Clayton Bubeck, President and CEO of Lancaster-based RETTEW Associates, a multidisciplinary engineering firm, and Ned Allis, Senior Vice President at GFT, a Camp Hill-based engineering firm. Bubeck’s presentation discussed several concerns commonly raised about data center development – including water consumption, energy use, noise, and site selection – while emphasizing a central theme: the challenges associated with data centers can be effectively addressed through thoughtful planning and sound engineering. Bubeck outlined the issues often cited by critics and explained how engineers work to mitigate them. He compared today’s conversations about data centers to the public debate surrounding the early development of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas industry. Reflecting on that experience, Bubeck said: “As we sit here today … our water quality has been maintained, there are no adverse effects to our air quality, our road networks have been upgraded … we solved all the concerns that people had through the application of engineered solutions. And this is the same thing. Every major engineering and environmental concern around data centers offers a solvable issue with an engineered solution.” Following Bubeck’s presentation, Ned Allis discussed factors that drive local government decision-making, including the extensive local and state regulatory frameworks to help protect communities throughout data center construction and operation. Safeguards such as environmental permitting requirements, water-use regulations, and oversight by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission all ensure projects meet acceptable standards. He also highlighted opportunities for Pennsylvania to leverage data center growth to fortify our infrastructure, as many data center companies are voluntarily investing private capital to build or upgrade local water and energy systems, saving taxpayers money and helping to address long-term energy supply while enhancing grid reliability. For more information, visit the PA Chamber Energy and Innovation Institute website for a library of research-based resources, including a model ordinance for municipalities considering data center development and an educational toolkit about data centers.