Latest news with #PennsylvaniaEnergy&InnovationSummit
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
The untapped potential AI can't replace in underserved communities like mine
The crime of post-60s liberalism is that it created permanent Black underclasses all over America, including on the South Side of Chicago where I live. The schools here are poor. Opportunities have been replaced by government handouts. Violence robs far too many families of their loved ones. Yet, there is much untapped potential in these underclasses. I thought about them as I listened to Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" detail the need for hundreds of thousands of tradesmen and women recently at the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit. He began by saying, "We've been telling kids for 15 years to learn to code." I, too, have been told to pursue that as a means of opportunity for my youth. But I always believed in the power of the trades. Rowe pointed out how the advent of AI has decimated many coding jobs but has not come after "the welders, the plumbers, the steamfitters, the pipefitters, the HVAC, or the electricians." AI cannot do manual labor. For the last 20 or so, our nation has emphasized the college degree above everything, including vocational training. In my opinion, this has been disastrous. In my community, there are still those who look down at the prospect of working with their hands. They believe the college degree is their ticket. Maybe it is, but my point here is that work done by our hands should not be looked down upon in our culture. It's honest work. Rowe said that he heard Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, say in Aspen that "we need 500,000 electricians in the next couple of years — not hyperbole." My non-profit has provided training in the electrician field to many individuals, including a Chicago Police officer who eventually left the force to work full time in her new field. He said the over 80,000 collision repair technicians would be needed. Over 140,000 tradespeople are needed to help companies build and deliver nuclear-powered submarines to the Navy. And for the energy field, 300,000 to 500,000 people will be needed. AI can't do any of this work. But I know people from the South Side and similar neighborhoods across America who can. We need to train these people and put them to work. They may be living in poverty and they may not have received the best education. But many of them are hungry to improve their lives. That is why our nation must reverse the decline of post-60s liberalism by giving these people direct pathways to opportunity. If one should fail or act detrimentally, then dismiss that person and let him or her be an example to others of what happens when one doesn't fully commit. We are a nation in a crisis. If we don't reverse the fortunes of my neighborhood and others like it, then when? The Golden Age for many Americans lies in the pursuit of a livelihood in the trades.
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit Shows Bright Future for Keystone State, Essential Utilities' Gas Infrastructure Will Support American Energy Dominance
PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the eyes of the energy world on Pennsylvania this week, the state's largest natural gas utility is at the ready to support data center and related development stemming from the $92 billion in statewide investment announced during Tuesday's inaugural Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit. 'With 15,000 miles of pipeline throughout the 18 Western Pennsylvania counties Peoples serves, we are ready to lend our expertise in delivering essential energy to support the unprecedented investments announced this week,' said President Michael Huwar. Essential Utilities' gas division, Peoples Natural Gas, had a presence at the Summit's expo space for innovative energy and tech companies. Peoples showcased its ongoing hydrogen production pilot with H Quest and the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering, with Peoples President Michael Huwar among the energy industry leaders invited to attend the July 15 summit at Carnegie Mellon University. 'Pennsylvania's abundance of natural gas, combined with our strong labor pools for engineering, robotics and the skilled trades, make this the perfect place to power the AI and energy revolution,' said Huwar. 'With 15,000 miles of pipeline throughout the 18 Western Pennsylvania counties Peoples serves, we are ready to lend our expertise in delivering essential energy to support the unprecedented investments announced this week.' In addition to H Quest, Peoples also works closely with another Energy & Innovation Summit expo presenter, Peoples Energy Analytics (PEA). PEA uses algorithmic analysis of utility customers to better identify those at risk of defaulting on bills and enrolling them in assistance programs. Peoples and Essential are also major supporters of the Energy Innovation Center Institute (EICI), which announced the concept of a new, $135 million Infrastructure Academy Regional Training (IART) Facility for workforce development. Slated to be the nation's first integrated training and operational site for energy, utility and critical infrastructure workforce training, the IART facility will be located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Essential Utilities' ongoing efforts to support innovation and workforce development, combined with its investments to modernize gas, water and wastewater infrastructure showcase its commitment to make life better for its customers, employees, and the communities we serve. Essential has invested more than $5.4 billion in infrastructure modernization since 2020, replacing more than 800 miles of aged gas pipelines in that time as part of a long-term plan to replace 3,000 miles of pipeline by 2035. For more information, visit About Essential Utilities Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. About Peoples Natural Gas Peoples, an Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) company, provides clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to approximately 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Peoples is committed to its customers, its employees, the environment, and to the regions it serves. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others: the potential for the project to provide a breakthrough for hydrogen as economic, zero-emission energy source and that 'turquoise hydrogen' may solve multiple challenges that have prevented hydrogen from large scale adoption. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including; the success of the project and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Essential Utilities business, please refer to Essential Utilities annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. Essential Utilities is not under any obligation — and expressly disclaims any such obligation — to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. WTRGG
Int'l Business Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
The New American Engine: Trump's $100B AI-Energy Blitz Begins A National Transformation
President Donald J. Trump this week unveiled a $100 billion wave of private-sector investments aimed at overhauling America's artificial intelligence infrastructure and the energy systems required to support it. Announced Monday at the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit held at Carnegie Mellon University, the plan draws together major players from the tech, energy, and investment sectors in what is being called the most aggressive public-private transformation of American industry in decades. Trump, now well into his second term, framed the initiative not just as an economic catalyst, but as a national security imperative. "AI will not be built in Silicon Valley alone," he told a packed audience of executives and local leaders. "It will be built in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia—where American workers can power the future." The message was clear: the next frontier in artificial intelligence isn't software alone—it's infrastructure, and America must build it fast. The scale of the investments is unprecedented for a non-federal package. Blackstone is committing $25 billion to develop AI-focused data centers and natural gas-powered microgrids across northeastern Pennsylvania. Google is pledging another $25 billion, including $3 billion dedicated to reviving hydroelectric power systems to support compute-intensive workloads. FirstEnergy will spend $15 billion on modernizing the regional grid. CoreWeave, a fast-growing GPU cloud firm, has allocated $6 billion to build dedicated AI campuses. Westinghouse Electric, PPL Corporation, and Equinor are investing across nuclear, renewables, and long-term grid storage. These figures were first confirmed by The Wall Street Journal and later expanded upon by The Financial Times. At the heart of the announcement is a strategic pivot. Until now, American dominance in AI has centered on chips, models, and cloud providers. This new phase, shaped by Trump's Innovation Council and quietly coordinated with top private funds, targets the physical backbone of AI. Administration officials argue that without substantial new power sources, the U.S. risks falling behind global competitors—chiefly China—who have already integrated energy and data infrastructure at scale. "It's not about apps anymore," one senior official told Axios. "It's about terawatts and teraflops—and who owns them." Critics, however, warn of environmental costs and long-term consequences. Student and faculty protests erupted at Carnegie Mellon, challenging the fossil fuel elements of the plan and questioning the ethics of hosting the President on a campus known for climate research. Environmental groups have also raised alarms about water usage and emissions tied to rapid AI infrastructure expansion. As reported by Reuters, concerns have been mounting that natural gas and nuclear development could undercut national climate goals. Yet Trump and his allies argue that the combination of natural gas, hydro, and advanced nuclear will ultimately result in cleaner and more stable power—if regulatory paths remain unobstructed. The larger implication of Monday's announcement is the emergence of a new national industrial model. AI infrastructure is no longer seen as just a digital concern. It is now physical, regional, and deeply tied to U.S. energy capacity. If the plan succeeds, it could turn deindustrialized regions of Pennsylvania and Appalachia into the backbone of the American AI economy, redistributing tech wealth and talent far beyond the traditional coastal hubs. It may also trigger a rush by other states to secure similar energy-tech deals, creating competition for data-center real estate, skilled labor, and favorable grid conditions. President Trump has long argued that America's competitive edge comes from building, not regulating. Monday's announcement represents the culmination of that belief, combining financial muscle, technological ambition, and nationalistic messaging in one colossal play. As construction begins and the first permits are filed, it remains to be seen whether this AI-energy fusion can deliver on its promise. But one thing is certain: the race for AI supremacy is no longer confined to algorithms. It's happening in the soil, steel, and circuitry of America's heartland.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google to Unveil $25B AI Infrastructure Investment at Pennsylvania Energy Summit
Google plans to invest $25 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic region and other areas over the next two years. The company also agreed to purchase $3 billion in hydroelectric power in the region. Google is expected to announce the investments at the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit on (GOOGL) Google plans to invest $25 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic region and other areas over the next two years. Google will announce the investment at the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit on Tuesday, a spokesperson told Investopedia. President Donald Trump, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and other lawmakers are expected to attend the event, which is being held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Additionally, Google announced a deal to purchase $3 billion in hydroelectric power in the PJM electric grid region from Brookfield Asset Management (BAM). Google will invest in modernizing two Brookfield facilities as part of the deal, the companies said, which 'supports Google's ambition to power its operations with 24/7 carbon-free energy.' Ruth Porat, Alphabet's chief investment officer, is attending the energy summit. 'Google's investments announced today will increase energy abundance and empower Americans with the skills needed to thrive in the AI era,' Porat said in a statement. 'We support President Trump's clear and urgent direction that our nation invest in AI infrastructure, technology, and the energy to unlock its benefits.' Also attending the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit is CoreWeave (CRWV), which is expected to announce a $6 billion investment in a new AI data center in the state. Shares of Google were little changed in recent trading Tuesday. The stock is down 3% for 2025. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
