Trump Unveils $90 Billion Investment in AI and Energy Infrastructure in Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump announced over $90 billion in investments aimed at advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure in Pennsylvania during the inaugural Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on July 15, 2025.

The summit, organized by Republican Senator David McCormick, brought together top executives from leading technology and energy companies, including Google, Blackstone, and CoreWeave. These investments are intended to position Pennsylvania as a central hub for AI development and energy production, reinforcing the administration's commitment to maintaining U.S. leadership in AI while addressing the growing energy demands associated with technological advancements.

Key Investment Commitments:

• Google: Announced a $25 billion investment over the next two years in AI and data center infrastructure within the PJM mid-Atlantic electricity grid. Additionally, Google partnered with Brookfield Asset Management in a $3 billion agreement to supply hydroelectric power from two dams on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to support its data centers.

• Blackstone: Committed $25 billion toward developing data centers and constructing new natural gas-fired power plants in northeastern Pennsylvania, with construction slated to begin by the end of 2028.

• CoreWeave: Pledged up to $6 billion to establish a new AI data facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, starting with a 100-megawatt capacity and potentially expanding to 300 megawatts. The project is expected to create 600 construction jobs and up to 175 permanent positions.

• Frontier Group: Plans to invest $3.2 billion to transform the former Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant in western Pennsylvania into a new natural gas-fired facility.

• FirstEnergy: Announced a $15 billion investment to upgrade the electrical grid across 56 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

The summit emphasized the critical link between energy production and AI development. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick highlighted the necessity of utilizing various energy sources to support AI infrastructure, stating, "We need to do clean, beautiful coal. We need to do natural gas, we need to embrace nuclear, we need to embrace it all because we have the power to do it and if we don’t do it we’re fools."

President Trump underscored the importance of energy production in maintaining U.S. leadership in AI, asserting, "China and other countries are racing to catch up to America on AI, and we’re not going to let them do it."

The announcement sparked significant protests from students, faculty, and local residents. Demonstrators criticized the university for hosting President Trump, citing concerns over research funding cuts, revocation of international student visas, and investigations into diversity programs. Environmental concerns were also raised, particularly regarding the ecological impact of expanding data centers, including increased fracking and water usage. Protesters voiced fears that city efforts to attract tech companies could raise housing costs and displace lower-income residents.

These investments are poised to create thousands of jobs and stimulate economic growth in Pennsylvania, potentially transforming the state into a leading hub for AI and energy production. However, the focus on natural gas and coal raises questions about the environmental impact, particularly in terms of carbon emissions and ecological degradation. The initiative reflects the administration's strategy to leverage energy production as a means to maintain technological superiority, especially in the face of global competition from countries like China.

President Trump's announcement of over $90 billion in AI and energy investments marks a significant step toward reinforcing America's position as a leader in technological innovation. While the economic benefits are substantial, the initiative also brings to the forefront critical discussions about environmental sustainability and the socio-political implications of such large-scale investments.