PHOTO GALLERY | Showcase panelists mull issues shaping Pa. economy, including data centers
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The annual Showcase for Commerce in downtown Johnstown attracts more than 1,000 attendees and features more than 100 multinational, national and regional exhibitors.
The event offers defense corporations access to billions of dollars in government contracting opportunities, according to the Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce.
However, the event isn't just for companies to make connections. And it's not only about opportunities in the defense sector, anymore.
The 35th Showcase for Commerce kicked off Thursday with informational panel discussions that featured experts from government, defense, technology and industry sectors discussing the most pressing issues shaping economic competitiveness.
This year's panel discussions at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center delved into aviation security, shipbuilding modernization, and artificial intelligence infrastructure – data centers.
One of the panel discussions considered concerns and potential benefits of business involving data centers as the economy demands an increasing number of centers to power artificial intelligence and data generation of digital devices used across households nationwide.
Analysts expect data center demand to grow by 33% annually through 2030, according to the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute, a project of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.
Data centers don't require a lot of manpower to operate after they are constructed, and mention of them often comes with concern about water usage to keep them cool, as well as the emissions they release into the atmosphere.
Following the rapid growth of data centers in Virginia, Pennsylvania could be another state primed for data centers.
"A legitimate question is, ‘Are communities going to see benefits from these?' " said Manny Jones, grassroots director for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute. Jones was among the panelists leading the discussion, which was much in favor of preparing Pennsylvania for welcoming data center developers.
Already in some parts of the commonwealth, school districts and county governments are seeing millions of dollars in revenue from property taxes as well as community investments made by data center developers, Jones said.
Panelist Glenn Davis, former director of the Virginia Department of Energy, said he's seen data centers benefit communities in Virginia.
He said the fact that data centers don't directly produce a lot of jobs is actually an advantage for small communities looking to increase their workforce populations.
Data centers provide Virginia with significant tax revenue to fund roads and schools – vital infrastructure that draws people and generates workforce for other industries, he said.
He noted that Virginia has a tax structure that fosters data center growth while also drawing revenue from them.
He said proponents of establishing a similar tax strategy for would-be data centers in Pennsylvania could plan it with data center operators.
"They want to be great partners," he said. "I'm not saying they have blank checkbooks, but they pretty much have close to blank checkbooks."
Follow reporter Russ O'Reilly on Twitter @RussellOReilly.
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