It’s been less than a year since Delaware was thrust into the data center debate that has been raging in many parts of the country, and key questions remain:  Does the First State want data centers as neighbors? What are the upsides, and where are the downsides? And exactly what is at stake as decisions are made?

Spotlight Delaware will shine that light on the data center controversy Thursday, April 16, when experts, stakeholders and citizens gather in Dover to discuss this distinctly 21st century quandary.

It’s the right conversation to have, and the right time to have it, sponsors and participants say.

“It’s coming fast and furious to Delaware, and the people responsible for making the decisions and the rules and the zoning do not have the information they need,” said Linda Parkowski, executive director of the Kent Economic Partnership, a co-sponsor of the Spotlight On: Data Centers forum. “It may be a new issue, but it’s important to have these conversations now.”

Jennifer Cohan, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Delaware, agreed, saying more people need to see the ways that data centers can boost Delaware’s economy.

“If Delaware wants to stay competitive, we need to lean into this growth in a smart, responsible way that supports our workforce, streamlines how we build, and ensures the economic benefits stay right here in our state,” said Cohan, whose organization is co-sponsoring the event. 

The forum is also co-sponsored by the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance.

The event will feature panelists who are directly engaged in the state’s public policy discussions, as well as officials from Virginia’s Loudoun County, who will speak of their long experience with data centers. 

Spotlight Delaware reporter Olivia Marble, who has covered the issue extensively over the past year, will lead the panel discussions at the forum, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Wilmington University Dover Campus.

“This event will give some clarity to attendees about what the different power brokers are doing right now to mitigate any potential big impacts, and also clarify some of the details about the positives the data centers might bring,” Marble said. “This event can’t give 100% clarity, but at least we can come together and agree on a shared set of facts so that people can form their opinions moving forward.”

To learn more, visit the event page here.