2026 Appalachian AI Energy Conference

ECI recently attended the Appalachian AI Energy Conference in Southpointe. The conference explored the connection of AI and Energy and the rapidly growing opportunities in the Appalachian Basin.

The Basin features among the lowest energy costs globally, critical to AI data centers. It has many brownfield sites ideal for conversion to data centers. Water supplies are ample, to provide cooling. The Basin also has a workforce proven capable of handling large scale industrial projects.

The day was filled with insights spanning to the future of Energy in PA, powering data centers and carbon capture, scaling AI-driven industrial systems, AI data center and power plant construction, etc.

Jim Neville, VP of Oil and Gas, shared his main takeaways: "We learned that the Appalachian Basin is well positioned to support AI infrastructure growth due to its existing utility network, access to water and, most critically, abundant natural gas to meet massive power demand. Yet even a well-funded campus with secured power and hyperscalers can be derailed by a single local zoning meeting. For this reason, AI developers must treat community engagement as a core component of successful project development."