At the September Policy Pulse Speaker Series, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber hosted Pennsylvania Senator Dawn Keefer (31) and Neal Lesher, Government Affairs Director for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry. They spoke with attendees about the growth of data centers in the Commonwealth. Senator Keefer serves on the Senate Majority Policy Committee, which recently held a hearing on the issue. At that hearing, Lesher testified on behalf of the Pennsylvania Chamber.
Pennsylvania has seen a steady increase in data center projects, with more proposals under review. These facilities house large amounts of computing equipment and often require significant land. They can create jobs and bring investment to local communities. At the same time, they require large amounts of energy and raise questions about environmental and community impact. Keefer and Lesher discussed both the opportunities and the challenges, with a focus on long-term economic outcomes.
State leaders point to Pennsylvania’s workforce, infrastructure, and energy supply as advantages that can attract new data centers. Several legislative proposals and executive programs aim to encourage growth in this sector. These measures include tax incentives and streamlined permitting. Lawmakers continue to explore ways to expand data center development while maintaining reliable energy supplies and addressing environmental and community concerns.
About the Harrisburg Regional Chamber
For 140 years, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber has served as the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity. The organization combines business, community, and economic development services to enhance the region’s vitality and livability. The Chamber is a five-star accredited chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—a distinction held by fewer than 1 percent of chambers nationwide.
The Chamber celebrates a storied history of being the catalyst that moves the city forward. The Chamber answered the call from Mira Lloyd Dock to lead the City Beautiful movement in 1900. Twenty years later, the Chamber spearheaded the effort to bring reliable, modern electricity to the city.
