Pennsylvania is once again poised to help fuel America’s economic resurgence, following the Trump Administration’s sweeping announcement this week of more than $90 billion in private-sector investments in artificial intelligence, energy, and power infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

Standing in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, July 15, President Trump highlighted the pivotal role that Pennsylvania’s abundant shale gas, nuclear know-how, and resilient workforce will play in powering next-generation technologies — from cloud computing to cutting edge energy infrastructure.

“We’re putting Pennsylvania workers first,” President Trump said at the summit. “These projects mean real jobs, real paychecks, and a stronger America that will never again be held hostage by China or anyone else.”

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick echoed that vision for Pennsylvania’s leadership in a national comeback:

“We have the skilled workforce to build and operate this critical infrastructure, world-class universities driving innovation, and strategic proximity to over half the country’s population,” McCormick said.

From Pittsburgh to Carlisle and Lancaster, to northeastern Pennsylvania, the investments, backed by industry giants like Google, Blackstone, CoreWeave, and Westinghouse, cover massive new data center campuses, natural gas generation facilities, hydroelectric and nuclear expansions, and modernized grid infrastructure that will touch nearly every corner of the state. Notable commitments include:

• Google: $25 billion to build AI data centers in 13 states and refurbish hydroelectric plants in PA.
• Blackstone: $25 billion for data centers and supporting energy infrastructure in Northeast PA.
• PA Data Center Partners & Powerhouse: $15 billion for a three-campus data hub near Carlisle.
• First Energy: $15 billion to expand and strengthen the power grid in 56 counties.
• Homer City Redevelopment: $15 billion for natural gas power generation.
• Westinghouse Electric: $6 billion to build 10 new nuclear reactors in Southwest PA by 2030.
• PPL Corp & Capital Power: Billions more to expand grid capacity and gas generation

Combined, these projects are expected to generate tens of thousands of direct construction and operational jobs, along with a broad ecosystem of supporting roles across supply chain, trucking, and logistics — forming the essential infrastructure that will support the growth of Pennsylvania’s energy and technology sectors, and the movement of products and materials to and from more than half the U.S. population within a day’s drive. 

The Freight Connection: Trucks Will Carry It

While headlines often spotlight data jobs and energy engineers, research shows that massive infrastructure investments will quietly supercharge Pennsylvania’s trucking industry, too.

A 2021 Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) report found that for every megawatt of data center capacity built, about $10–$12 million in construction costs are incurred — driving steady demand for heavy-haul trucking to deliver specialized equipment, structural steel, HVAC units, and backup power systems (NVTC, The Economic and Fiscal Impact of Data Centers in Virginia, 2021).

Similarly, the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 U.S. Energy & Employment Report found that major energy projects — from pipelines to power plants — create 1–2 indirect transport and logistics jobs for every direct construction worker, as turbines, transformers, fuels, and high-value components must be transported efficiently and safely (Source: U.S. DOE USEER 2023).

But these investments don’t stop paying dividends when the last beam is bolted in place. Major energy and data infrastructure projects create permanent, high-quality jobs and drive long-term growth in Pennsylvania’s communities for decades to come.

For example, according to NVTC, each large data center directly supports 40 to 60 permanent on-site jobs — from IT engineers to facility technicians — with average salaries well above the regional median (NVTC, The Economic and Fiscal Impact of Data Centers in Virginia, 2021). But the ripple effects are even greater: every single data center job supports another 4 local jobs in areas like maintenance, security, equipment servicing, and freight logistics. That means steady trucking work long after construction is done, moving parts, generators, diesel for backup systems, and supplies that keep these high-tech hubs running around the clock.

Energy projects have a similar impact. The USEER shows that natural gas, nuclear, and grid infrastructure upgrades support decades of operations and maintenance jobs, plus continuous logistics demand for fuel deliveries, replacement parts, and seasonal equipment outages. A single nuclear facility, for example, can run 24/7 for 40 to 60 years, with trucks delivering specialized equipment, fuel rods, and critical materials — all handled by skilled freight professionals.

Economic research by firms like ICF and Chmura Economics further shows that every billion dollars spent on large industrial or energy projects typically generates up to three billion dollars in local economic activity over 20 to 30 years. The supply chains, vendor contracts, and manufacturing clusters that grow around these sites ensure that Pennsylvania’s trucking industry will stay busy — hauling the materials and products that keep the lights on and the data flowing for generations.

In short, these historic investments aren’t just about jobs today — they’re about building a resilient economy where Pennsylvania truckers will keep delivering well into the future, helping spread the economic benefits outward from these projects to homes, businesses, and communities across the country.

“Pennsylvania’s great resources – coal, oil, and timber – built America and secured its economic prosperity in the 20^th century, and the hardworking men and women in the trucking industry moved it all,” said Rebecca Oyler, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA).

“Today, we stand on the precipice of a different kind of revolution — one where energy and technology are intertwined like never before. These investments confirm that Pennsylvania will once again play a key role in this revolution. And the trucking industry, like it always has, will be there to move the materials that make it happen — delivering at the forefront of American innovation and growth. We are so excited for what this means for our members, our state, and the entire economy.”

As Pennsylvania seizes this historic moment, PMTA urges state leaders, local communities, and our members to take bold steps to secure trucking’s role:

• Invest in truck parking: Safe, reliable parking keeps our highways moving and our drivers rested.
• Keep Pennsylvania competitive: Level the playing field so Pennsylvania trucking companies can grow and thrive right here at home.
• Strengthen the workforce pipeline: Support training and career pathways for the new truck drivers, diesel technicians, and transportation workers our economy so badly needs.

From the shale fields of the Marcellus to next-generation AI hubs, Pennsylvania’s truckers are ready to deliver — one load at a time.