Alerify on ABC27: Data Centers, AI, and the Future of Energy

Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking a closer look at how data centers are regulated, and Alerify’s own CEO, Andy Kochanowski, was featured on ABC27 to share his perspective. In this segment, Andy provides an inside look at Alerify’s Dauphin County facility, explains how data centers operate, and discusses the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on power usage, cooling needs, and local communities.

In the ABC27 feature, lawmakers debate Senate Bill 939, which would fast-track permits for data centers while still giving local governments and residents a say in the approval process. The story highlights how these facilities affect tax bases, infrastructure, and communities across Pennsylvania.

Andy Kochanowski is interviewed as a data center expert, offering insight into how Alerify operates differently from massive “hyperscaler” centers. Alerify’s Dauphin County data center serves businesses in seven states but is located within a standard office building, relying on high-efficiency air conditioning supplemented by solar panels that provide nearly half of its power.

Andy notes that while Alerify remains efficient and community-scaled, the rise of AI workloads and GPU computing means many larger data centers require liquid cooling systems and consume vast amounts of electricity and water.

The segment also includes voices from lawmakers and township officials concerned about energy demands, noise, and light pollution associated with large-scale facilities. A roundtable discussion is scheduled to continue exploring how Pennsylvania should balance the economic benefits of data centers with their environmental and community impact.