As Pennsylvania stands at the forefront of an energy and technology revolution, the PA Chamber is urging lawmakers to adopt policies that strengthen energy reliability and affordability while positioning the Commonwealth as a national hub for tech innovation.
In recent testimony before two legislative committees, PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Amy Brinton emphasized that Pennsylvania’s dynamic energy assets, combined with its skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, geographic location, educational institutions, and other assets, make it uniquely suited to lead the next wave of innovation.
“AI is the fastest-growing tech sector and is increasingly integrated into industries ranging from healthcare to manufacturing,” Brinton told lawmakers. “This is not just a technological shift; it is a generational change and requires a level of infrastructure readiness that few regions can provide.”
Energy Reliability: A Critical Crossroads
As the nation’s top electricity exporter and a leading producer of natural gas, coal, and refined petroleum, Pennsylvania is already a global energy leader. But despite our high rate of production, reliability is at risk. Accelerated retirements of thermal generation resources and the demands of modern-day technologies (with exciting, historic investments in AI and data centers paving new pathways in Pennsylvania) are currently outpacing the integration of new energy capacity, posing a challenge for grid reliability.
“With growing demand from artificial intelligence, data centers, and broader electrification, we must act now,” Brinton said. In written testimony to the House Republican Policy Committee, Brinton called for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that protects baseload power while encouraging innovation and investment in emerging technologies.
Strategic Policy Priorities
To ensure Pennsylvania remains competitive, the PA Chamber is advocating for:
- Balanced Energy Policy: Support for reliable, dispatchable generation alongside renewable and innovative technologies.
- Permitting Reform: Continued progress on measures like the bipartisan SPEED Act and Senate Bill 6 to reduce permitting delays and ensure shovel-ready projects can encourage more investment and jobs.
- Infrastructure Readiness: Strengthening grid capacity through energy industry buildout, transportation and water access to meet the demands of data-intensive industries.
- Workforce Development: Leveraging Pennsylvania’s strong network of colleges, technical schools, and apprenticeship programs to build a robust talent pipeline.
In testimony to the House Energy Committee, Brinton also spoke about proposed legislation that would regulate data center operations, cautioning that certain provisions could unintentionally discourage investment.
“Pennsylvania has all the ingredients to become a national, and even global, leader in data center investment and AI-driven innovation,” she said. “Just as Pennsylvania led previous industrial and energy revolutions, we can lead again—this time in the era of AI and digital infrastructure.”
Driving Collaboration Through the Energy and Innovation Institute
The PA Chamber launched the Energy and Innovation Institute to advance these goals – a platform for thought leaders to collaborate on policies that responsibly leverage Pennsylvania’s energy assets for long-term economic growth. By aligning innovation with reliability, the Institute aims to make Pennsylvania the ideal place to invest in the energy revolution.
“Pennsylvania stands at a critical crossroads,” Brinton told lawmakers. “By embracing an energy policy that combines innovation, reliability, and economic growth, we can ensure a prosperous future for all Pennsylvanians.”