Youngstown-Warren chamber weighs data center opportunities against community concerns
Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber CEO Guy Coviello discussed balancing data center opportunities with community concerns, including utility costs, availability and local benefits. He said the chamber is working with communities on responsible development and will address the issue at an upcoming public policy conference.
Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, said communities have legitimate concerns about data centers, particularly whether increased demand could make utilities scarce and more expensive for residents and existing businesses. He said the chamber is working with communities to develop a thoughtful process for evaluating potential projects, including expectations for community benefit agreements, fair payments and responsible operators.
Coviello said some communities have adopted moratoriums or contacted the chamber to prepare for possible future development, even without an active project. He expressed reservations about broad moratoriums, arguing that communities should establish clear standards rather than signal that similar pauses could apply to other industries. The chamber planned to discuss the regional data center debate, artificial intelligence and related misinformation at its public policy conference.