Can utilities handle data centers’ electricity, sewer and water needs?

Data centers are rapidly expanding in Northeast Pennsylvania, with 12 projects proposed in Lackawanna County. PPL Electric Utilities, Pennsylvania American Water, and the Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority discussed the utility demands of these data centers in an Archbald Borough Council meeting. While the region has sufficient water and electricity capacity, concerns were raised about power shortages and the need for infrastructure upgrades, which could be subsidized by ratepayers. Data centers may be required to generate their own power or cover the costs of infrastructure improvements. Water and sewer capacity are also challenges, with developers potentially paying hundreds of millions of dollars for upgrades. Several public hearings are scheduled in the coming months to address these data center proposals.