Pennsylvanians should pay close attention to how corporate power and political influence are converging around the rapid expansion of data centers across our state. With deep ties to federal policymaking and the fossil fuel industry, Dina Powell McCormick is well positioned to advance large-scale technology and energy deals with long-term consequences for communities (“Dina Powell McCormick, wife of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, named Meta president,” Jan. 13, TribLive).
The McCormicks organized an artificial intelligence (AI) summit in Pittsburgh, where industry leaders outlined plans for data center expansion across Pennsylvania. At that same summit, EQT announced plans to drill 18 new natural gas wells for fracking to supply energy for these facilities, underscoring the close link between AI infrastructure and expanded fossil fuel extraction. This month, Meta announced plans to purchase nuclear energy from the Beaver Valley nuclear plant, locking the region into an agreement that could increase utility costs for decades. These decisions are moving quickly, often with little public input.
We still have a chance to protect our towns. Local governments can use zoning and land-use ordinances to require transparency from developers and limit where data centers can be built. Without proactive engagement, communities risk being bamboozled by corporate promises while bearing the real costs long after the deals are signed.
Lee McNew
Philadelphia