February 18, 2025
1:00 – 3:00 PM Eastern
The energy industry and its potential impacts to freshwater resources in the Lake Erie watershed will be the focus of the next Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental Forum (PALEEF), hosted virtually on February 18, 2025, at 1:00PM Eastern. The forums are hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and Pennsylvania Sea Grant. Participation is free, however, registration is required.
Staff from the energy programs office of PA DEP will discuss Climate Pollution Reduction grants (available through PA DEP), and electricity generation and distribution in the Erie area. Representatives from Accenture, a global professional services company that provides IT services and management consulting will discuss data centers and water quality impacts. Data centers store and share applications and data and are expected to impact freshwater resources through increased water consumption in the face of climate change. Penn State Extension educators will provide details about solar farms and associated impacts to water resources.
Visit the PA LEEF page to learn more about the forums.
Agenda
| 1:00 – 1:05 | Welcome to the Forum Tim Bruno, Great Lakes, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Amber Stilwell, Pennsylvania Sea Grant |
| 1:05-1:20 | Great Lakes Updates Tim Bruno, Great Lakes, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection |
| 1:20-2:20 | AI, Data Centers, and their Water Impact Daryl Sng, Accenture Rawaa Milner, Accenture Rich Pauloo, Accenture |
| 2:20-2:30 | Break |
| 2:30-2:50 | Solar Farms and Impacts to Freshwater Resources in Northwest Pennsylvania Matthew Svetz, Penn State Extension |
| 2:50-3:00 | Public comment; Adjournmen |
