Some of the largest energy, utility and tech companies in (and outside) the U.S. joined President Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit and pledged $90 billion in investments to develop the state’s AI sector.
The president told the Pittsburgh audience on July 15 that the U.S. is well ahead of China in the development of artificial intelligence technology, and that investments and permit reforms would keep America in front.
“We have the hottest country, and we’re going to keep it that way,” Trump said.
The summit brought together some of the biggest players in the energy and tech business.
Investment firm Blackstone made the largest commitment, announcing a $25 billion investment to energy infrastructure and data center development in northeast Pennsylvania, as well as a joint venture with PPL Corp. to develop power generation.
Several energy companies also made pledges:
- Norway’s Equinor said it would invest $1.6 billion to boost natural gas production at its Pennsylvania facilities and explore linking its gas production to power for data centers;
- Canada-based Enbridge plans to invest $1 billion to expand it natural gas pipelines into Pennsylvania with projects announced in the next 18 months; and
- Canada-based TC Energy plans to invest $400 million to modernize its Pennsylvania midstream network.
Other companies invested in different types of electrical generation. Brookfield and Google announced that they had agreed to develop 3,000 megawatts (MW) of hydro-powered assets within the U.S.
The companies’ first contracts, totaling $3 billion together, will be executed in Pennsylvania, Brookfield said in its announcement.
Westinghouse, the world's largest designer of nuclear power plants, said the company would invest $6 billion and have 10 new nuclear plants under construction in Pennsylvania by 2030.
Penn State focus
Trump has focused on bringing economic development to Pennsylvania. During his 2024 presidential campaign, he pledged to sign deals that would spur investment in the state.
Pennsylvania GOP Sen. David McCormick, a Pittsburgh resident serving his first term, said he created the summit to help the region play a role in the ongoing AI data center development race with China.
In an earlier interview with the Wall Street Journal, McCormick said he was frustrated with the lack of new industrial development in the Keystone State. While Pennsylvania sits on the Marcellus Shale, the state has had difficulty landing data center campuses. Most of the development in the area has happened in Virginia or, more recently, Ohio.
State business and educational leaders have created an AI Strike Team to bring development.
“What’s happening here today is absolutely historic,” McCormick said to Trump at the close of the summit. “Your presence and those investments showcase Pennsylvania’s story to the world.”