The rapid growth of hyperscale data centers—driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing—is reshaping digital infrastructure while raising urgent concerns about water resource management.
These massive facilities, which process, store, and distribute vast volumes of data, demand significant energy and create a sizable water footprint.
This seminar will examine both direct and indirect water use, the metrics used to measure it, and the resulting strain on local resources and infrastructure.
A national overview will explore historic and projected water consumption, energy needs, and greenhouse gas emissions, while local case studies will highlight how utilities have managed data center expansion in their service areas.
The discussion will also consider potential solutions, including water-efficient cooling, onsite recycling, and the role of policy and transparent municipal planning in site selection.
Participants will better understand the challenges and opportunities of data center growth and to engage in informed conversations about the future of digital infrastructure in their communities.
Who is this for?
-- Individuals interested in water resources
-- Municipal and township planners
-- People interested in data centers and their impact on local water resources
-- Travelers and outdoor enthusiasts
What will you learn?
-- Hear about current work happening in the water resource field
-- Ask questions about data centers and how they use water
-- Share ideas with professionals across Pennsylvania
-- Learn about smarter planning for data centers to minimize water consumption
Click Here to register and for more information.
Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.
Upcoming Extension Programs
October 8-- Penn State Extension In-Person Workshop On Managing Invasive Plants, State College, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
October 10-- In-Person. Penn State Extension, PA Farm Bureau Host Energy & Agriculture Conference. Camp Hill, Cumberland County.
October 14-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On Landscaping Around Onlot Septic Systems, Noon to 1:30 p.m.
October 15-- In-Person. Penn State Extension Hosts Pest Biocontrol School In Lancaster County. Two sessions 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
October 15-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar On Green Stormwater Management. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
October 29-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ And Fish Consumption. Noon to 1:00 p.m.
November 7-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On US Geological Survey Water Science Center Water Quality Monitoring Efforts, 11:00 to Noon
November 8-- Virtual. Penn State Extension: Webinar On Discovering Owls Of Pennsylvania With Wildlife Photographer Pamela Dimeler, 10:00 a.m. to Noon
November 11-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On What Home Buyers Should Know About Onlot Septic Systems During Property Transfers, Noon to 1:30 p.m.
November 14-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Water Quality Insights Webinar On Floodplain Wetlands. 11:00 to Noon.
November 19-- Virtual. Penn State Extension A.I. Data Centers And Water Resources, Noon to 1:00 p.m.
November 19-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar On Using A.I. For Community Planning. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
December 5-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Water Quality Insights Webinar: Watershed Nutrient Management, 11:00 a.m. to Noon
December 17-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Hosts Advice From The Woods - Ask Our Experts! Webinar, Noon to 1:00 p.m.
December 17-- Virtual. Penn State Extension: Forest Farming - Maple Syrup Webinar. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
February 6-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Webinar On PA Invasive Species - Plants Fueling Pest Invasions, 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.
Related Articles This Week:
-- Union Of Concerned Scientists Reports 16 A.I./Data Center Electric Transmission Projects In PA Imposed $461.8 Million In Costs On Ratepayers In 2024 [PaEN]
-- Utility Dive: Some State Lawmakers Urge PJM To Take Steps So Clean Energy Projects Can Meet Federal Tax Credit Phase Out Deadlines
-- Water At Risk: PJM Grid Operator And Why Electric Bills Keep Climbing In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association [PaEN]
-- Environmental Advocates Call On DEP To Reject Permit For A 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant At The Homer City A.I. Data Center Complex In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 77 Emergency Power Generators At The Amazon Data Center In Salem Twp., Luzerne County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Nov. 14 Hearing On Renewal Of An Air Quality Permit For The Coal, Natural Gas-Fired Brunner Island Power Plant In York County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On An Air Quality Permit For The Tenaska PA Partners, LLC Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On The Renewal Of An Air Quality Permit For The Wolf Run Energy, LLC Natural Gas Power Plant In Bradford County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Comments Now Being Accepted For An Air Quality Permit For The Hunterstown Power, LLC Peaking Electric Generation Facility In Adams County [PaEN]
-- DEP Sets 3 Hearings On Air Quality Standards For Plastics Resin Manufacturers Shell Chemical Appalachia, Rohm & Haas Co. Multi Plastics Extrusions [PaEN]
-- New York Blower Company In Lawrence County Launches New Rooftop Solar Energy System For Its First Fully Sustainable Manufacturing Facility [PaEN]
-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Is The Sun Setting On PA’s Solar Future As President Rescinds $156 Million In PA Solar Funding Blocking Power Production
-- Environmental Defense Fund: President’s Subsidies For Costly Coal Saddle Families With High Electric Bills, More Pollution
-- US Dept. Of Energy Announces $625 Million Investments In Recommission, Retrofit Coal-Fired Power Plants
-- Post-Gazette/Bloomberg: President Launches Broad Effort To Help Revive Flagging US Coal; Blocking Clean Energy Projects
-- Utility Dive: US Dept. Of Energy Cancels $7.6 Billion In Clean Energy Project Grants In States That Voted Against President
NewsClips:
-- Utility Dive: Report: Customers In PJM States Paid $4.4 Billion For A.I. Data Center Electric Transmission In 2024; In Pennsylvania $492 Million
-- Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: Building A.I. Data Centers Without Breaking Electric Ratepayers Or Reliability In PJM
-- Utility Dive: A.I. Data Centers ‘Primary Reason’ For High PJM Electricity Capacity Prices, According To Market Monitor [‘Misleading’ To Say Its Tightening Of Supply And Demand]
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Don’t Let A.I. Data Centers Stick Us With The Bill - By Frank Lasee, Truth In Energy and Climate
-- Bloomberg: A.I. Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring, Wholesale Electricity Costs Up As Much As 267% [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: To Address Affordability, Tightening Supply And Demand, States Need To Address Siting, Permitting, Other Issues To Assure New Electricity Supplies - By Asim Haque, PJM Senior Vice President
-- Beaver Times: Study: Droughts, Demand From A.I. Data Centers, Farming, Post Risks For Great Lakes Region Water Supplies
-- PA Environmental Council: Is Pennsylvania Ready For An A.I. Data Center Boom? Risk Factors And Possible Solutions - By John Walliser, VP for Legal & Government Affairs
-- Capitol Wire: Team Pennsylvania’s Strategy For Data Centers And A.I. Promotes Regional Cooperation
-- Data Center Frontier: DCED Explains Why A.I. Data Center Developers Are Choosing Pennsylvania
-- TribLive Guest Essay: Southwestern PA Must Plan Smarter For A.I. Data Centers - By Panini A. Chowdhury, Professional Planner
-- Scranton Times: Archbald Residents Push Back Against Proposed A.I. Data Center Zoning [PDF of Article]
-- WNEP: Archbald Residents Voice Opposition To Proposed A.I. Data Center Zoning Law
-- Scranton Times: Zoning Hearing Sept. 29, Special Meeting Oct. 3 To Shape Archbald’s A.I. Data Center Future In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]
-- Citizens Voice: Wright Township Adopts Ordinance To Regulate A.I. Data Centers In Luzerne County
-- TribLive: TECfusions A.I. Data Center To Be Live By End Of Year In Upper Burrell Twp., Westmoreland County
-- Republican Herald: Butler Township Supervisors OK A.I. Data Centers In Business Park In Schuylkill County [PDF of Article]
-- LancasterOnline: Plans Submitted For Lancaster City A.I. Data Center’s 2nd Phase [PDF of Article]
-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Council To Consider New A.I. Data Center Rules Oct. 6 [PDF of Article]
-- PPL Utilities Files For 6.98% Electric Rate Increase Boosting Residential Customer Bills By $160.44 A Year Or $13.37/Month
-- Morning Call: PPL Electric Requesting Nearly 7% Rate Increase; Here’s What It Could Mean To Your Bill
-- AP: Regulators Struggle To Keep Up With The Fast-Moving, Complicated Landscape Of A.I. Therapy Apps [PA Mentioned]
-- NPR: Kiss Reality Goodbye - A.I. Generated Social Media Has Arrived
[Posted: October 4, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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