FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September, 28 2026
CONTACT: Dana Kuhnline, 513 601 9854, [email protected]
APPALACHIA – Thursday, October 1, 2026, at noon ET via Zoom, ReImagine Appalachia will host a virtual session to explore putting new data centers on existing industrial sites and brownfields, colocating them with other industries to strengthen economic diversification.
In many areas, the national surge in data center development is disrupting farmland and natural and community spaces. However, there is an abundance of shuttered or underutilized industrial zones whose existing infrastructure could theoretically accommodate new facilities. In the upcoming webinar, speakers will explore how building data centers on these sites could be creatively adapted to increase economic diversification.
As Appalachia seeks to revive its industrial legacy, brownfields and industrial zones offer assets for new development. They are prime locations to combine data centers with manufacturing facilities that could produce the steel racks and electrical equipment that these facilities need, as well as other components and equipment needed throughout the region.
Speakers will include:
- Jake Higdon, founding director of Advanced Industrial Zones and a fellow with California Forward and the Center for Public Enterprise.
- Katie See, Assistant Director, Brownfields Assistance Center at WVU, Mid-Atlantic TAB
- Bikash Gupta, Sustainable Manufacturing Research Analyst at ReImagine Appalachia
- Rike Rothenstein, Senior Research Associate at ReImagine Appalachia
WHO: ReImagine Appalachia
WHEN: Thursday, October 1, at noon ET via Zoom
WHERE: Virtual via Zoom
REGISTRATION: https://reimagineappalachia.org/events/
About ReImagine Appalachia
ReImagine Appalachia is a coalition working to ensure Appalachia is a leader in the clean energy economy and that the new economy creates good jobs and strengthens communities.