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How A.I. Companies Are Turning Into Energy Companies – The New York Times
This New York Times video examines how AI companies are becoming energy companies as the race to develop AI products drives a worldwide search for new power sources to fuel data centers. Technology correspondent Karen Weise explains that AI-specific data centers are significantly more power-intensive than traditional facilities and describes how tech companies are investing…
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Breathe Cam
The Breathe Cams are high-resolution, zoomable, 24-hour live camera feeds of Pittsburgh’s skyline, the Mon Valley and the Ohio River Valley to help you discover more about the air you breathe. Explore the Breathe Cams, take the tutorial and learn how to capture your own video footage and take action to protect our most precious…
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What is a Data Center?
PennFuture attorney Brigitte Meyer walks through data center basics in a video series opener — how servers and cloud infrastructure work, why AI-driven demand accelerates construction and the five facility types from hyperscale campuses to shipping-container micro centers. PennFuture also publishes a model municipal zoning ordinance addressing water, power, noise and aesthetics.
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What Can Municipalities Do to Prepare for Data Centers
PennFuture attorney Brigitte Meyer explains how Pennsylvania municipalities can use zoning to regulate data centers. Covers overlay zoning districts, water consumption requirements, on-site power generation rules, noise standards, visual screening and emergency response planning. PennFuture provides a model ordinance with suggested language for each area.
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Local Air Impacts from Data Centers
Powering data centers with fracked-gas plants and diesel backup generators carries real air-quality costs. PennFuture litigation attorney Jessica O'Neill breaks down nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions across three electricity sources: grid power, on-site generation, and backup diesel systems.
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Data Center Power Usage
In 2023, data centers consumed 4.4 percent of total U.S. electricity — estimates put that share at 6 to 12 percent by 2028. PennFuture attorney Emma Bast breaks down how generative AI drives demand at every stage, from model training through token generation. A single ChatGPT conversation uses as much electricity as charging a phone.
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Economic Impacts of Data Centers
Data center construction jobs run into the hundreds, but permanent staffing settles at just 5 to 50 positions. PennFuture's Donna Kohut breaks down the economics of hosting a data center, including untracked state equipment tax exemptions, relocation risk every three to five years, and rising electricity costs tied to demand.
Exposing AI Data Center Threats and Harms