Inside PA's Data Center Boom
Data centers have been around for more than 80 years, so why is everyone talking about (and fighting over) them now? If new data centers get built in nearby communities like Homer City and Springdale, what happens to the environment and our electricity bills? Alice Crow, the lead Pittsburgh reporter for Technical.ly, joins host Megan Harris to explain what exactly a data center is, why our region and state are attractive spots for these facilities, and what we do and don't know about their impact.
Read Alice's fantastic data center explainer and check out the Pennsylvania Data Center Proposal Tracker to see if a project's starting near you.
Learn more about the sponsor of this February 4th episode:
P3R - Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration
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