(WBRE/WYOU)— Now to the huge increase in controversial data center investment money coming into Pennsylvania.
We're talking billions of dollars, just in the last few days.
There are arguments for and against it, but the promise of jobs and a place on the national stage for AI leadership is something that simply can't be ignored.
28/22's Avery Nape met with the president of a local chamber of commerce to find out what the impacts of this historic investment could mean.
The growing industry has been heavily debated in recent months, mostly due to the power demands and potentially negative environmental impacts, but many, including the Scranton Chamber of Commerce, are saying the development of these centers will be a huge win here in NEPA.
Tuesday's meeting could change the course of data infrastructure in the Keystone State.
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President Trump, in Pittsburgh, announced more than 90 billion in private investment toward data center development across the commonwealth.
One company, Blackstone, says it will be investing $25 billion in the state, and already has multiple land sites here in NEPA to develop these sprawling centers.
While the projects are still in the early phases, Bob Durkin, President and CEO of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce says the economic impacts in NEPA could be historic.
"It might well be the single biggest investment ever for northeastern pennsylvania, but that's just one company. That's not the end of it," said Durkin.
Just last month, Amazon announced another investment of more than $20 billion dollars in the state between two sites, one in Luzerne County.
Durkin says this marriage between energy and technology sectors could maintain and attract long-term quality jobs to the area.
Blackstone says up to six thousand jobs could be created from it's investment alone.
"Not only is it an opportunity for us to keep our best and brightest here, it's an opportunity to both recruit individuals who maybe have never had a connection to northeastern pennsylvania, and those who were here and left maybe after school, after college, to get other jobs," expressed Durkin.
NEPA's proximity to hubs like New York and Philadelphia, and its access to the power grid, make it the ideal candidate for data center infrastructure.
While many communities are pushing back against data center development, Durkin says the development will happen with or without the commonwealth.
"That's gonna happen anyway. So for us to say well, 'we don't want that in northeastern Pennsylvania' well then it'll just be someplace else. Why can't, or shouldn't we, take advantage of that situation," said Durkin.
It's important to note that many of these projects are still in the early stages. Blackstone says the construction of its projects aren't projected to begin until 2028.
