OP-ED: Data centers are a community conversation
Important conversations are happening across the region regarding the development and location of data centers. Residents and businesses are expressing their thoughts about these facilities’ impacts on our economy, infrastructure, and communities. This dialogue is valuable and necessary for the future of our county and our country. But when these facilities seek to locate in our area, we must balance individual and societal needs for connectivity with how data centers integrate into our communities, making a good-faith effort to weigh the costs and benefits. Many local municipalities have already begun these conversations as they consider zoning and permitting actions.
Data centers host the computing infrastructure necessary to store, process, and network digital data. They are the physical embodiment of “The Cloud” we all use every day to stream movies and power smart devices as well as support ride-sharing apps, online bank transactions, and social media interactions. In short, they are essential to our everyday lives.
Numerous studies also highlight the positive contributions of data centers, focusing on their ability to catalyze economic growth, create jobs, and drive infrastructure improvements. Data center demand has spiked to keep pace with the computing power necessary to run powerful Artificial Intelligence models that represent the next frontier in human development. These benefits align with President Trump’s America’s AI Action Plan, which encourages investment in data center infrastructure to establish the U.S. and our allies as the global leaders in AI development.
While the economic benefits are clear, concerns about potential downsides deserve honest, fact-based analysis. One frequent concern is rising consumer utility costs due to the high energy demands of data centers. While this can occur, increases are often driven by regional conditions, such as in northern Virginia, where high population concentrations and a strained electricity grid have struggled to keep pace with demand. In Washington County, our proven natural gas resources would allow data centers to utilize on-site energy generation, providing “behind the meter” power that minimizes or avoids cost increases for consumers. Pittsburgh International Airport demonstrates this concept successfully, generating its own power through an off-grid natural gas and solar microgrid that contributes excess energy back to the regional grid. In addition, Pennsylvania Gov, Josh Shapiro has proposed the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development standards as part of his 2026-27 budget proposal and discussions with the legislature are ongoing to develop state-wide best practice standards as part of an overall budget package.
Another concern is that data centers prefer to locate on working farmland or green field sites. Modern data centers prioritize properties with existing utility infrastructure and sufficient space to recycle treated wastewater, reducing freshwater consumption. Many former industrial or brownfield sites meet these requirements. We should prioritize reinvigorating these sites, putting them back to productive use, and returning them to the tax rolls. Communities must also consider what other, potentially less desirable, industrial uses might otherwise occupy these same properties.
While no data center projects have been announced in Washington County, these facilities are a necessity for the modern life we all enjoy, imperative for our economy, and vital for our national security. At the same time, they should be fully vetted. It is encouraging that thoughtful community conversations have already started as we seek to determine our collective future in the digital economy.
Jeff M. Kotula is president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.