Author: Carly Dubetsky

What is the current state of our grid, and how should Pennsylvania prepare for future demands relating to AI, data center development, and other critical investments while ensuring our grid’s resiliency?

PA Public Utility Commission Chairman Stephen DeFrank will address these pressing questions at the PA Chamber’s upcoming 2025 Energy and Environmental Conference! Join us from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28 at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel for this information-packed event.

Many other hot topics in energy and environmental policy highlight the day’s information-packed agenda, including:

• Federal and State Environmental and Energy Policy Updates
• Pennsylvania’s Energy Role in Unleashing Innovation
• Efforts to Modernize Permitting Processes
• PFAS Challenges and Solutions
• …and more!

This highly anticipated conference also offers the opportunity to earn continuing education credits, visit with exhibitors, network with peers and experts, and engage in discussions on unleashing Pennsylvania’s full energy potential!

Sign up today to exhibit, sponsor, or attend this top-tier annual event.

We look forward to greeting you there!

The PA Chamber is excited to announce that starting today, Brian Rengert has joined the organization as Director of Political Engagement. Rengert comes to the PA Chamber with over a decade of policy and legislative experience, serving six years as Executive Director of the PA House Republican Campaign Committee and most recently serving as Director of Government Relations at the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

“Brian brings a strong understanding of the legislative process and a reputation for building effective relationships across the aisle,” PA Chamber President & CEO Luke Bernstein said. “His experience will be a great asset to our advocacy work as we continue advancing pro-growth policies that make Pennsylvania more competitive.”

In this role, Rengert will direct the PA Chamber’s political efforts, including overseeing ChamberPAC, the Chamber’s bipartisan political action committee, coordinating candidate engagement, and working with PA Chamber members to enhance the broader business community’s political activism.

“The PA Chamber is leading the effort to transform our state into even more of an economic powerhouse than it already is,” Rengert said. “I am excited to join such a well-respected organization and use my experience to further its mission.”

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry recently hosted a bipartisan Government Affairs Roundtable at Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), bringing together local legislators and leaders from labor, education, and the energy sectors to explore Pennsylvania’s potential to lead the nation in data center development, energy production, and workforce advancement.

Featured speakers included PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein, Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber President Lindsay Griffin-Boylan, LCCC President John Yudichak, state Senators Lisa Baker, Lynda Culver, and David Argall, and state Representatives Alec Ryncavage, Dane Watro, Eddie Day Pashinski, Jim Haddock, and Jamie Walsh.

Workforce development emerged as a central theme of the event, with community colleges—especially LCCC—recognized for their role in preparing students for careers in the trades and emerging technologies. Participants emphasized the need to align education and training programs with practical industry demands.

Senator Lynda Culver highlighted the importance of early childhood education, noting that only 33 percent of third graders are reading proficiently. She advocated for increased investment in literacy and soft skills. This priority aligns with the PA Chamber’s Keystone Initiative, a member-driven, long-range economic blueprint that identifies third-grade reading proficiency as a key predictor of long-term professional success.

Discussions also touched on the potential impact of Amazon’s new AI investment in the region. Participants noted that Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas, reliable nuclear energy, and the availability of land make the state an attractive location for such large-scale infrastructure projects. However, these opportunities also highlighted the need to balance economic development with quality of life and other concerns. For instance, several employers stressed the need to improve workforce development to ensure businesses have the workforce required to capitalize on data center investments and downstream opportunities.

The workforce discussion included a  focus on apprenticeships and specifically the need to reform apprenticeship ratios. Many business leaders criticized Pennsylvania’s current 4:1 apprentice ratio, arguing that it limits their ability to train workers and grow their operations. They called for more flexible policies, pointing to other states that allow a 1:1 ratio. Legislators responded by saying they would be willing to consider bringing the ratio down to 2:1 as a compromise, acknowledging the need to modernize the system while maintaining safety and training standards. The conversation also touched on the importance of better integrating merit shops and non-union contractors into apprenticeship pathways, with a shared goal of expanding workforce access without sacrificing job quality.

The open forum fostered meaningful dialogue between business and community leaders, highlighting shared concerns and opportunities related to economic development. Lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to keeping business, labor, and education aligned around common goals.

Employers interested in learning more about SB: 439 and HB: 677 —legislation addressing the apprenticeship issue discussed at the roundtable—are encouraged to contact Mallerie Stromswold at mstromswold@pachamber.org.

This event is part of the PA Chamber’s ongoing efforts to facilitate localized, impactful conversations between employers and elected officials, offering a platform to share insights, raise concerns, and explore solutions to challenges facing Pennsylvania’s private sector.