ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM

Blank Rome partner Frank L. Tamulonis III and senior counsel Frederick M. Lowther will serve as panelists at the 2026 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium, being held on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. This year’s symposium topic is “Powering the Future: Navigating the Environmental and Energy Impacts of Data Centers.”

The rapid growth of data centers and their substantial energy demands are transforming the landscape of energy infrastructure development. As the digital economy expands, data centers require increasingly large amounts of electricity and water, raising complex legal, technical, and environmental questions. At the same time, nuclear power is emerging as an energy source potentially capable of meeting these demands while reducing carbon emissions, but it brings its own regulatory, safety, and sustainability challenges.

The Symposium will explore the environmental and regulatory challenges associated with powering data centers and the role of nuclear energy in supporting these facilities. Panels will bring together experienced professionals from academia, legal practice, and industry to discuss policy, design, and regulatory frameworks that are shaping the development of data centers.

CLE credit is available.

ABOUT FRANK’S AND FRED’S SESSIONS

Introduction to Data Centers, Energy, and the Environment
9:00-9:30 a.m.

This panel will provide an overview of data centers and their implications for energy use and environmental permitting. 

  • Todd Aagaard, Professor of Law and Heller McGuinness Leadership Chair, Villanova Law
  • Alfonso Ortega, James R. Birle Professor of Energy Technology in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University College of Engineering
  • Frank Tamulonis, Partner, Blank Rome LLP

Environmental and Land Use Impacts of Data Centers
10:45-11:45 a.m.

This panel will examine how data center siting, resource needs, and design decisions shape their environmental and community impacts. Panelists will discuss zoning and permitting issues, pressures on local infrastructure, and the water and power considerations that accompany data center development.

  • Brigitte Meyer, Staff Attorney, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future
  • Alice Solomon, Associate Attorney, Barley Snyder
  • Frank Tamulonis, Partner, Blank Rome LLP
  • Aaron Wemhoff, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University College of Engineering

Nuclear Power and the Future of Data Center Energy
12:00-1:00 p.m.

This panel will explore the potential role of nuclear power in meeting the growing energy demands of data centers. Panelists will provide background on nuclear generation, outline key regulatory and safety considerations, and discuss projections for the future growth of nuclear power generation in the United States.

  • Cameron Hughes, Associate, Hogan Lovells US LLP
  • Fred Lowther, Senior Counsel, Blank Rome LLP
  • Darani Reddick, Vice President and Chief of Staff to the CEO, Constellation Energy Corporation

To learn more and register, please visit the event webpage.