One topic gaining attention across south central Pa. is the growing demand for energy driven by artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
At the PA Leadership Conference in Cumberland County, Republican leaders from across the Commonwealth shared their vision for the future, including how to meet rising energy demand ahead of the midterms.<\/p>\n
\u201cTools that we use every day, the phones that we use, that’s driven by AI, and it’s only going to advance significantly over the next five to 10 years,\u201d Jim Welty, president of Marcellus Shale Coalition, said.<\/p>\n
One panel focused on the role Pennsylvania could play in powering AI and data centers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe produce the second most amount of gas than any other state. We produce 60% of our electricity from natural gas, and we have so much more resources under our feet to ensure that we’re powering that future,\u201d Welty said.<\/p>\n
And he explained the state\u2019s natural gas supply could give Pennsylvania a major advantage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that we have that, it gives us an incredible advantage for the economic future of this Commonwealth, and we need to be utilizing that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But some state officials have different opinions about how that future should look.<\/p>\n
State Sen. James Malone (D-Lancaster) shared his perspective with FOX43 with this statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny conversation about the future of AI and data centers here in Pennsylvania needs to be about how we respect people and our land. That means ensuring people\u2019s utility bills don\u2019t increase by requiring new AI data centers to provide their own clean power generation. It also means protecting farmland by prioritizing redevelopment of existing industrial facilities when new data centers are proposed.\u201d<\/p>\n