Artificial intelligence is reshaping the American economy, and it’s being powered by Pennsylvania’s natural gas. Last month Pittsburgh made national headlines as U.S. Senator Dave McCormick and President Trump announced more than $90 billion in private capital investments, but many of those announcements target energy and AI infrastructure in Northcentral and Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Home to 53% of Pennsylvania’s total natural gas production, this region of the Commonwealth is becoming the backbone of America’s AI and data center revolution. But it’ll require collaboration across government, business, and workforce entities to ensure those billions in investment turn into sustained growth for this region, Pennsylvania, and the nation.

This week, the Marcellus Shale Coalition partnered with Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Williamsport/Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce to host a business luncheon focused on the digital economy, AI infrastructure, and what it will take to meet the demands of this moment. More than 100 regional business, labor, education, and economic development leaders came together to discuss how our communities can be part of the solution.

This region isn’t just well-positioned for growth – it’s actively being chosen by major investors because of its unique energy advantages. Blackstone, for example, selected the region to invest $25 billion for new data center development because of its access to reliable, on-site power. That kind of energy certainty is critical in the race to scale AI and other data-heavy technologies. Data centers are among the most power-intensive facilities on the grid, and their demand is only expected to grow as technologies advance.

In the next three years, AI-tied electricity use is expected to increase 100-200%. Put simply, intermittent sources can’t meet that need – but Pennsylvania natural gas can.

Equally as important as powering this future are the people required to build, operate, and sustain it. No other labor force on the planet is as eager and prepared to construct and service this next generation infrastructure as Pennsylvania’s building trades workers. With the right training and apprenticeship programs, we can ensure that Pennsylvanians are filling the high-tech, high-paying jobs that come with investments of this magnitude.

That’s where our colleges, technical schools, and job-training programs with our partners in the building trades play a critical role. Institutions like Penn College and apprenticeship training programs are helping to prepare students and workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow. As energy systems evolve and technologies change, our education system is evolving with them, ensuring workers have the necessary skills to thrive.

This is a pivotal moment. Pennsylvania’s energy advantage has long been clear, but it’s become even more critical to our nation’s role as an energy leader. The global race to lead in AI is underway, and success depends on having the energy, infrastructure, and talent to support it. Our Commonwealth checks every box.

Pennsylvania natural gas isn’t just abundant and affordable – it’s the only fully American energy source that can meet the growing, immediate demand. Developing and using it strengthens our economy, supports good-paying jobs, and provides the reliability our digital future demands.

As AI continues to scale-up, it is natural gas that will keep America at the front of the global race. And as was highlighted at this week business luncheon, Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry is committed to working lock-step with community and government partners to ensure these historic investments translate into real progress and long-term growth for our state.

Jim Welty is president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.