Trump, McCormick Unveil $70B Pennsylvania Energy, Tech Boom/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donald Trump and Sen. David McCormick are announcing $70 billion in energy investments during Pittsburgh’s Energy and Innovation Summit. Pennsylvania seeks to become a hub for AI, robotics, and energy, with major corporate and political support. Recent deals from Amazon and Microsoft further fuel the state’s economic ambitions.
Pennsylvania Energy Investments Quick Looks
- Trump and McCormick to announce $70B in energy spending
- Carnegie Mellon hosts summit with top CEOs and officials
- Pennsylvania aims to be a hub for energy, AI, and tech jobs
- Big investors include Amazon, Blackstone, SoftBank, ExxonMobil
- State leaders push for major tech and manufacturing projects
- Amazon, Microsoft, and Nippon Steel driving major developments
- Shapiro promotes PA’s investment wins amid political ambitions
Deep Look
Trump, McCormick Unveil $70 Billion Pennsylvania Energy Investments
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump and Pennsylvania Sen. David McCormick are set to reveal a massive $70 billion energy investment package during Trump’s trip to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, underscoring Pennsylvania’s growing prominence as a national hub for energy, technology, and advanced manufacturing.
The announcement will take place during the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University, a gathering designed to unite business leaders, technology innovators, investors, and policymakers under one roof. The summit reflects a high-stakes push by Pennsylvania’s leaders to transform the state, particularly Pittsburgh, into a powerhouse for robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and energy production.
While the White House and McCormick’s office have not provided a detailed breakdown of how the $70 billion will be allocated, McCormick described the initiative as a springboard for tens of thousands of new jobs across the state. “Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned because of our abundant energy resources, skilled workforce, and technological expertise,” McCormick said in an interview on Fox News. “We need to win the battle for AI innovation in America, and Pennsylvania is at the center of it.”
The summit is attracting heavyweight business figures, including CEOs from major global firms like Blackstone, SoftBank, Amazon Web Services, BlackRock, and ExxonMobil. Local tech firms such as Pittsburgh-based Gecko Robotics, which utilizes AI to improve energy infrastructure and efficiency, will also be represented. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, plans to attend the summit, highlighting the bipartisan interest in economic growth and innovation.
Several top officials from the Trump administration are slated to speak at the summit, including White House cryptocurrency advisor David Sacks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. McCormick credited his wife, Dina Powell McCormick—a former deputy national security adviser under Trump and a veteran Goldman Sachs executive currently working at BDT & MSD Partners—with originating the summit concept.
Pittsburgh’s transformation into a tech and energy hotspot has been decades in the making. The city is home to Carnegie Mellon University, a world-renowned engineering and technology institution, and hosts a vibrant ecosystem of robotics startups and AI companies. The so-called “AI Avenue” in Pittsburgh now houses major offices for tech giants like Google, further cementing the city’s reputation as a leader in innovation.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s robust energy sector continues to be anchored by the vast Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves, which make the state a critical player in America’s energy future.
Trump’s energy policy has repeatedly emphasized achieving “U.S. energy dominance,” a strategy in which Pennsylvania plays a pivotal role, given its mix of traditional and emerging energy industries.
The $70 billion initiative comes amid a flurry of recent high-profile investments in Pennsylvania. Nippon Steel finalized a nearly $15 billion deal to acquire U.S. Steel, winning Trump’s backing after pledging significant upgrades to Pittsburgh-area plants. Amazon has committed $20 billion to build two major data center complexes in Pennsylvania, signaling confidence in the state’s infrastructure and workforce. Additionally, a former coal-fired power plant is being converted into the country’s largest gas-fired facility to supply energy to a sprawling data center operation.
Microsoft is also betting on Pennsylvania’s future, announcing a $1.6 billion investment to revive the lone operational nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island. The move is part of a long-term power agreement intended to fuel Microsoft’s growing network of data centers.
Governor Shapiro, elected in 2022 and considered a possible 2028 presidential contender, has been vocal about Pennsylvania’s need to compete for transformative industrial projects, like semiconductor fabrication plants or electric vehicle manufacturing hubs. Although his administration has yet to secure a single “mega-project,” Shapiro has positioned Pennsylvania’s recent wins—such as the Amazon, Microsoft, and Nippon Steel deals—as evidence of momentum heading into his reelection campaign.
As Trump and McCormick spotlight Pennsylvania’s future at this week’s summit, the state stands at a critical intersection of politics, energy policy, and technological innovation, with billions in investments poised to reshape its economic landscape for decades to come.
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