Blueprint for smart data center development can start in our region
Residents in the Greater Lehigh Valley and northeast Pennsylvania have always had to balance our access to pristine, natural beauty and a small-town way of life with the demands of industry and economic development. Our neighboring Carbon County in particular itself derives its name from the large deposits of anthracite — the highest quality coal that were once mined here and helped our towns power the economic engines of the entire country.
With coal all but gone from the region and the old economic model fading with it, our local townships must be deliberate about their next steps and pursue partnerships with industries willing to protect our way of life while creating real opportunity for the future. Data centers — the facilities powering everything from generative artificial intelligence to the global financial system to the webpage you are reading this piece on right now — can bring jobs, economic development and revitalization to our region, and, if properly and proactively managed, have minimal impacts on our local communities.
A recent examination by the Brookings Institution argues that communities should use permitting and approval processes for data center development to align potential projects with local priorities and deliver real benefits for the region. With the atmosphere around data center deals becoming increasingly challenging, along with the need for a specialized workforce to build these sites, communities should demand strategic benefits and environmental protections as core elements of any deal.
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