As the world races forward in the age of artificial intelligence, the demand for energy — especially reliable, dispatchable power — has never been greater. Data centers — the digital backbone of AI, cloud computing, and our increasingly connected world — are rapidly multiplying. These facilities require enormous amounts of electricity 24/7, and that demand is only going to grow.
While renewables play a vital role in our energy mix, natural gas remains critical to ensuring the kind of reliable, scalable power needed to support the AI-driven future. For Pennsylvania, the second-largest natural gas producer in the United States, this presents a massive opportunity–not just to fuel the future, but to lead it.
AI models, cloud infrastructure, streaming services, and modern enterprise tools all rely on massive data centers — many of which consume as much power as small towns. Unlike intermittent power sources, natural gas provides the on-demand electricity these facilities require. Its flexibility allows it to ramp up when needed, balance the grid, and complement the growth of renewable energy sources.
In many regions, new data center projects are paired with natural gas generation or are located near existing plants for precisely this reason: reliability and performance. With the resources we have underfoot, Pennsylvania stands out. Without stable power, AI can’t deliver on its promise. And without natural gas, we risk bottlenecks in digital innovation.
Pennsylvania sits on top of the Marcellus Shale, one of the most prolific natural gas formations in the world. Every day, workers across the state safely extract affordable, clean-burning energy that powers homes, businesses, and, increasingly, the data centers of the future.
As the second-largest natural gas-producing state in the United States, Pennsylvania is in a prime position to lead the way — not just in energy production, but in economic development. The buildout of infrastructure that supports gas delivery — pipelines, processing plants, and power generation facilities — means more jobs, stronger communities, and increased state revenue.
Earlier this month, a powerful coalition of energy industry leaders, labor representatives, and policy influencers gathered in Delaware County to deliver a united and urgent message: Pennsylvania is at the forefront of America’s energy future — and homegrown, clean-burning natural gas is the engine driving it. With expanded infrastructure and facilities such as Energy Transfer’s Marcus Hook terminal, Delaware County is quickly becoming a strategic energy hub for the East Coast. The event underscored this critical intersection of energy, economic development, and innovation and technology.
But we can’t take that leadership for granted.
It’s not enough to have the gas in the ground — we need to be able to move it efficiently and safely to where it’s needed. That means investing in new pipeline infrastructure, expanding capacity on existing systems, and ensuring regulatory frameworks support timely and responsible development.
Without the ability to transport gas to power plants, manufacturing hubs, and data centers, Pennsylvania risks losing its competitive edge. Bottlenecks can mean higher prices, missed opportunities, and the loss of high-tech development to other regions or even countries.
Every mile of pipeline, every new compressor station or upgraded plant, represents good-paying jobs–many of them filled by skilled union labor. The infrastructure buildout isn’t just about energy; it’s about revitalizing communities, supporting working families, and keeping the next generation of Pennsylvania workers employed in meaningful, future-facing industries.
Investments in energy infrastructure are investments in people. From pipefitters and electricians to truck drivers and equipment operators, the energy economy supports tens of thousands of jobs across the state. These are careers with dignity, training, and long-term stability–and borne of a culture of safety, responsibility, and professionalism.
As AI reshapes every corner of the global economy, energy will be the invisible force driving that transformation. Pennsylvania has the resources, the workforce, and the technical know-how to be at the center of it all. But only if we keep building–responsibly, strategically, and boldly.
That means:
Supporting natural gas production with clear, consistent permitting policies.
Investing in pipeline and power infrastructure to meet growing energy demands.
Leveraging union labor to ensure quality, safety, and good wages.
Partnering with technology companies looking for energy-secure regions to build in.
Pennsylvania doesn’t have to just power the AI future–we can help define it and build it together.
Kurt Knaus is director of the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance, a broad-based coalition of labor, agriculture, manufacturing and other business interests statewide that support private investment in pipeline and other energy infrastructure developments. He wrote this for DelawareValleyJournal.com.
