AI Data Centers: Energy, Infrastructure, and Policy Implications

Join Sustainable Pittsburgh for a timely webinar examining the rapid growth of AI data centers and what it means for energy systems, communities, and our environment.

As demand for artificial intelligence accelerates, data centers are expanding across the country. They bring economic opportunity alongside significant electricity use, water demand, and infrastructure impacts. For regions like Pennsylvania, these facilities raise important questions about grid reliability, land use, emissions, and long-term sustainability.

This session will explore how data centers operate, the scale of their environmental footprint, and the policy tools available to guide development in more energy-efficient and climate-aligned ways. Speakers will share examples from across the country, discuss emerging approaches to clean energy procurement and efficiency, and examine the role of state and local decision-makers, utilities, businesses, and advocates. We’ll also consider how thoughtful planning today can support economic competitiveness while advancing environmental responsibility tomorrow.