BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Residents gathered Saturday at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to discuss the growing use of artificial intelligence and the potential impact of data centers on communities across the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n
The community conversation, organized in part by Lehigh Valley Stands Up, included presentations, small-group discussions and conversations about how residents can participate in decisions surrounding future data center projects.<\/p>\n
Dr. Maggie Riegel, who attended the event, said she plans to bring what she learned back to her classroom at Northampton Community College.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very passionate about what goes on in my community, and I\u2019m also very passionately against the use of generative artificial intelligence in the classroom and for educational purposes,\u201d Riegel said.<\/p>\n
Another focus of the event was the growing number of proposed data centers in the region.<\/p>\n
Gillian Wenhold, one of the organizers with Lehigh Valley Stands Up, said data centers could place pressure on local resources if they are not properly regulated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey take our water, our electricity, they pollute our air, they cause noise,\u201d Wenhold said. \u201cAnd so it\u2019s not something that\u2019s going to bring any good to our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The discussion comes as communities across the Lehigh Valley consider proposals for new data center facilities.<\/p>\n
In July, protesters gathered for a proposed data center site at 2401 W. Emaus Ave. in Allentown.<\/p>\n