The Case for Data Centers

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Driving Economic Growth, Lucrative Careers, and Community Investment

Data centers represent a transformative opportunity for Pennsylvania, offering historic investments, new
careers, stronger local budgets, and pathways for communities to build sustainable opportunities for prosperity.

Economic Growth

The rise of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and investments in digital infrastructure have been significant drivers of broader U.S. economic growth. These positive impacts can be observed both in the national gross domestic product (GDP) and in state economies. 

  • National Economic Impact: The data center industry contributed $2.1 trillion to U.S. GDP from 2017–2021.

  • Pennsylvania Impact: The industry added $14.4 billion to the state economy in 2023, rising to $21.2 billion with spillover effects, comparable to the entire economic impact of Penn State University.

  • Catalyst for Additional Investment: Blackstone announced $25 billion for digital and energy infrastructure, which is expected to spur $60 billion in related projects.etween smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, speakers, smart watches, doorbell cameras, security systems, thermostats, lighting, video game consoles, smoke alarms, health monitors, appliances, and more — there’s no denying we are all benefitting from an increasingly interconnected world driven by cloud computing and massive amounts of data.

Lucrative Careers

Initiatives are underway to launch and enhance data center technician programs, fiber-optic training, and STEM education in partnership with educational institutions across Pennsylvania to help prepare the workforce for next-generation careers.

  • Amazon’s $20 billion investment will create 1,250+ new technical careers plus thousands of jobs in construction and the supply chain.

     

  • Blackstone/QTS’s $25 billion investment will create 3,000 permanent jobs in addition to an estimated 6,000 construction-related jobs.

     

  • CoreWeave’s $6 billion data center project in Lancaster County will create 175 permanent jobs in addition to 600 jobs associated with the buildout of the project.

Community Investment

Data centers increase local tax bases, enabling municipalities to expand public services without
raising taxes.

  • Proven Model: Data centers contributed $900 million in tax revenue to Loudon County, VA, or 40 percent of its budget, while occupying just three percent of land. For context, it would take > 75,000 homes to generate the same revenue.
    • Benefit-to-Cost Ratios: In Loudon County, data centers have paid out $26 for every $1 spent on services for them.
    • Imported Tax Base: Because data centers serve customers around the world, they effectively import new tax revenue into the local economy rather than redistribute pre-existing local dollars.

  • Local Impact: Pennsylvania Data Center Partners’ $15 billion investment into Cumberland County will generate
    over $65 million in direct tax revenue – doubling Middlesex Township’s operating budget, covering a quarter of the
    school district’s annual budget, and providing a 12 percent increase to the county’s overall tax base.

Join Us

The Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Institute is the leading platform for ideas, data, and innovation to intersect and generate a vibrant energy future for our Commonwealth.

To learn more and get involved, contact Amy Brinton at abrinton@pachamber.org.