In a sweeping announcement at Carnegie Mellon University today, former President Donald Trump revealed a monumental US$90 billion private-sector investment targeting Pennsylvania’s artificial intelligence (AI) and energy sectors. The plan, backed by leading technology and energy firms, aims to position western Pennsylvania as a global innovation corridor for high-performance computing, data infrastructure, and industrial energy systems.
Presented at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, the proposal marks one of the most ambitious state-focused economic packages in recent memory. Major corporate players—including Google, CoreWeave, Blackstone, Enbridge, and Equinor—have committed billions in funding to build data centers, expand energy capacity, and train the next generation of high-tech workers.
Google alone pledged $25 billion to develop AI infrastructure and data centers in the region, alongside a new $3 billion hydropower venture with Rye Development. Blackstone has committed another $25 billion toward high-efficiency power generation and storage systems to support energy-intensive computing. Meanwhile, CoreWeave—a major AI compute provider—will construct data facilities valued at $6 billion, while Enbridge and Equinor are investing over $2.6 billion in gas pipelines and flexible power generation, ensuring reliable grid capacity for the AI boom.
Trump, who headlined the summit alongside U.S. Senator Dave McCormick and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, emphasized the national and strategic significance of the initiative.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming every sector—from defense to agriculture—and it’s our job to ensure America leads this revolution with the energy capacity to match,” Trump stated. “That starts right here in Pennsylvania.”
The former president proposed easing federal permitting restrictions, enabling the construction of power plants directly adjacent to data centers. He also advocated for expanding natural gas, coal, nuclear, and hydroelectric energy to accommodate rising demand.
The convergence of AI and energy in this plan signals a bold new development model—one that blends economic growth, technological leadership, and national security strategy. U.S. data center electricity usage, already at 167 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2023, is expected to double within the decade. This demand, Trump argued, makes energy infrastructure “a battlefield” in America’s competition with China for technological supremacy.
While the announcement was met with enthusiasm by state leaders and industry giants, it has also sparked strong opposition from environmental advocates and students at CMU. Critics argue that the plan’s reliance on fossil fuels could lock the region into outdated and polluting systems, undermining progress on climate goals. Protesters gathered outside the event decried what they called a “corporate fossil-tech summit,” raising concerns about transparency, public health, and local input.
Despite the pushback, officials from both parties acknowledged the historic scale of the plan. Governor Shapiro called for accountability, emphasizing that corporate promises must be fulfilled and community voices heard. He noted the state’s intent to monitor every phase of implementation to ensure long-term benefits for Pennsylvanians.
As the $90 billion commitment unfolds, Pennsylvania finds itself at the crossroads of innovation and controversy. If successful, the initiative could generate tens of thousands of jobs, revive advanced manufacturing, and cement the region’s place as a strategic AI-energy hub. Yet questions remain about how to balance speed with sustainability, profit with public interest, and technological ambition with environmental responsibility.
The stakes are high—and all eyes are now on Pennsylvania.
