About 100 industry representatives, local officials, and economic development stakeholders gathered last week in Pottsville to discuss the economic opportunities and community considerations surrounding data center development in Pennsylvania The roundtable was hosted by the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute, an initiative of the PA Chamber Foundation. The discussion focused on the economic benefits of data center investment and its potential impacts on energy use, water consumption, infrastructure, workforce development, and local economies. George Stark, senior energy advisor for the Institute, emphasized during the discussion that data center projects in the state are being driven by growing market demand rather than speculation. Becky Ford from Amazon Web Services noted that the company is building data center complexes in Luzerne and Bucks counties and is pursuing an additional campus in Schuylkill County. Ford said current infrastructure can meet only a fraction of projected data demand and argued that substantial additional development will be needed to support future computing and cloud-storage requirements. Beyond the facilities themselves, panelists discussed how data centers can serve as catalysts for broader economic development. Representatives from PPL, NorthPoint Development, and engineering firms RETTEW, Woolpert, and Barry Isett & Associates said major projects can spur investment in roads, utilities, and electric infrastructure that can benefit surrounding communities and support future business growth. Workforce development was another key theme. Representatives from Lehigh Carbon Community College discussed efforts to adapt training programs and coursework to prepare workers for data center-related careers, while a representative from Geisinger highlighted the growing importance of advanced computing resources in modern health care. The discussion comes as state and local policymakers weigh the potential economic benefits of data center investment alongside concerns about energy, water, and community impacts. Panelists pointed to Pennsylvania’s energy resources, workforce, and location as factors that could help the commonwealth attract investment tied to artificial intelligence. As demand for computing capacity continues to grow, the Pottsville roundtable provided an opportunity for industry and community leaders to examine the infrastructure, energy, and workforce needs that will accompany that growth and consider Pennsylvania’s role in the expanding digital economy.