Confidential Client, Pennsylvania Data Center Power and Utilities Consultation and Design Services

Burns worked with a commercial landowner in western Pennsylvania to perform an infrastructure and on-site power assessment exploring on-site generation and grid-powered energy options for potential data center operators and tenants.

When a landowner with almost 200 acres of property in western Pennsylvania was approached by data center developers interested in the site and inquiring directly about potential data center applications and concerns regarding available power, they engaged the Burns Power and Utilities team to explore energy solutions.

The Burns team compared grid supplied electricity to several options to self-generate power using various technologies including reciprocating engines, gas combustion turbines, fuel cells and battery storage. This work included performing extensive energy and techno-financial modeling, interfacing with the electric transmission company, evaluating local natural gas pipeline capacities, quantifying available water supplies, and identifying nearby fiber optic infrastructure. Since the study’s completion, the team has continued in an advisory capacity supporting the client’s energy strategy and go-to-market efforts.

At this site, and many others sought by data center developers and operators, a common concern is the grid’s inability to support the ever-growing electricity demands of data centers. This is especially true for those being built for power-hungry AI applications. Although this site benefits from high-voltage transmission lines (138kV) traversing the property, the interconnection process faces long delays and uncertain outcomes. To address this “time to power” challenge, our team is drawing on extensive mission-critical on-site power generation and microgrid experience to develop and design alternative solutions that can accelerate a site’s development.

Burns is dedicated to developing power solutions that not only meet the technical demands of the data center industry but also reflect a commitment to environmental stewardship. By integrating resource stewardship into a scalable go-to-market strategy, we help minimize project related impacts—locally, regionally, and globally. This approach enhances operational resilience and market competitiveness for our clients.