Pennsylvania is experiencing significant interest in data center development, presenting local elected officials with complex questions about land use, infrastructure, economic development, and community impact. This presentation will examine the forces driving the current wave of data center proposals in the Commonwealth, distinguish credible projects from speculative development activity, and identify practical due diligence questions municipal officials should ask when reviewing an application. The session will also highlight emerging trends, recurring issues, and key considerations for communities evaluating these increasingly consequential projects.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the primary factors contributing to the recent increase in data center development proposals in Pennsylvania.
2. Evaluate the credibility and readiness of a proposed data center project by examining the applicant, development experience, financing capacity, site control, and potential speculative intent.
3. Identify recurring land use, infrastructure, environmental, public process, and community impact issues arising in local review of data center proposals.

Speaker:

Adrian Markocic is a Greater Pittsburgh region resident, Pennsylvania-licensed attorney, and energy infrastructure professional whose work focuses on power markets, interconnection, land use, and large-load growth. He has advised on data center energy strategy and worked directly with hyperscale data center development opportunities, including the integration of renewable generation and large-load sites. Earlier in his career, Adrian spent more than eight years working on Pennsylvania energy policy, zoning, permitting, and local government engagement. He holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and currently serves as Senior Director of Market Strategy at Silicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest solar independent power producers.

Click here to Register