Researchers explore using abandoned Pennsylvania mines for data centers

A study suggests repurposing closed coal and mineral mines in Pennsylvania could host data centers while addressing both community opposition to their construction and the remediation of abandoned mining sites.

First covered Sep 22, 2026 · 2:00 AM PT · 1 article

Researchers explore using abandoned Pennsylvania mines for data centers — Image via insideclimatenews.org

Coverage

4d Inside Climate News Could Abandoned Mines House Pennsylvania’s Unwanted Data Centers? — Almost nobody wants a data center for a neighbor. Residents fear noise and air pollution, excessive energy and water use and the loss of open land.

Primary sources

cdn.prod.website-files.com 6A2040E263892Ddd3E08Ee27 Ree%20Policy%20Brief%20 %20Weber%20Et%20Al (cdn.prod.website-files.com)

census.gov Bza115223 (census.gov)

eta-publications.lbl.gov Repurposing Coal Assets 121123 Final (eta-publications.lbl.gov)

Related coverage

4d Inside Climate News Pennsylvania’s AI Boom Is Repeating Old Patterns of Exploitation

More coverage from around the web

politicspa.com Could Abandoned Mines House Pennsylvania’s Unwanted Data Centers? - PoliticsPA

natlawreview.com How Pennsylvania Can Use Abandoned Mines for Data Center Hubs

norrismclaughlin.com How Pennsylvania Can Use Abandoned Mines for Data Center Hubs - Law of the Land

iee.psu.edu Abandoned Pennsylvania mines and waste-heat recycling could make the state’s massive new data centers far more sustainable | Institute of Energy and the Environment

theconversation.com Abandoned Pennsylvania mines and waste-heat recycling could make the state’s massive new data centers far more sustainable

Appeared in: 2026-09-22 (#16)

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