Powering the AI Revolution From Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has always powered America’s revolutions — from steel and coal to nuclear energy and the factories that forged the Arsenal of Democracy. Today, the AI revolution represents the most profound change of our lifetimes. And Pennsylvania should be at its forefront.

Fueling the AI revolution will require the largest energy infrastructure buildout in generations. Last year, major technology companies invested nearly $450 billion in data centers and AI infrastructure. They may spend as much as $700 billion this year. We have not seen capital deployment at this scale since the Interstate Highway System was built. 

No state is better positioned to lead the AI and energy revolution than Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation in total energy production, with abundant natural gas and nuclear capability. But our edge goes beyond energy. Premier AI universities — Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, Penn State, UPenn, among others — are driving breakthroughs in AI, robotics, and machine learning. And an incredible workforce of steamfitters, pipefitters, electricians, and machinists stands ready to build the infrastructure of the future. The AI opportunity in Pennsylvania extends far beyond data centers — companies across the Commonwealth are applying AI to manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, defense, and more. 

President Trump’s energy dominance agenda is turning Pennsylvania’s natural strengths into an investment boom. Last July, I hosted the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University where, with President Trump’s help, we catalyzed
$92 billion in commitments for the Commonwealth. These are generational investments in data centers, power infrastructure, and workforce training — creating tens of thousands of construction jobs and thousands of permanent positions for Pennsylvanians. 

The impact goes beyond jobs. I have worked to support data center projects in Pennsylvania that significantly increase townships’ tax revenue. That money will lead to better schools, improved infrastructure, and stronger community services. 

Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation in total energy production, with abundant natural gas and nuclear capability. But our edge goes beyond energy.

But as with any major transformation, we must be clear-eyed about the risks associated with Pennsylvania’s AI moment. Data centers consume huge amounts of power, water, and land, and their construction can disrupt communities. If developers do not pay for their own power, Pennsylvanians will see higher energy bills, and that is unacceptable. 

For Pennsylvania to reap the full rewards of this moment, every developer, investor, and partner must commit to three principles. First, never offload costs to communities: pay for your own power, support grid upgrades, and never seek special tax breaks. Second, minimize your footprint: use best-in-class cooling technology, respect private property and protected land, and follow the rules of the road on environmental impacts. Third, maximize the benefit for Pennsylvania communities: hire locally, invest in workforce training, buy American, provide AI training and compute access to local schools and businesses, and always be transparent. 

Given the scale of their investments, there is no reason the hyperscalers and other large technology companies cannot meet these commitments. 

Industry must do its part and so must government. We cannot make America energy dominant if red tape keeps us from building anything at all. As I promised on the campaign trail, I am pushing for permitting reform that forces the federal government to make decisions on time, lower costs, and become a partner and not an obstacle to economic growth. 

Every state in America is competing for the investment, the jobs, and the industries that the AI and energy revolutions will create. But no state can match what Pennsylvania brings to the table: the energy, the workforce, the universities, and the commitment to get it right. The AI revolution will be powered from somewhere. It should be powered from Pennsylvania.