Pa. energy investments announced by Trump include Lehigh Valley companies. Here’s what we know.
President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. David McCormick on Tuesday announced tens of billions of dollars in energy investments throughout Pennsylvania, and two energy companies with Lehigh Valley ties are involved.
At the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, at Carnegie Mellon University, Trump and his Cabinet members said the United States needs to produce as much energy as it can to compete with China for both economic and national security.
Some of the investments announced by McCormick’s office were not necessarily brand new, while others were. Among the investments announced were several involving the two electric utilities serving the Lehigh Valley:
PPL Corp. will invest $6.8 billion through 2028 to expand grid capacity and modernize transmission lines across multiple Pennsylvania counties to support the growing power demand of data centers needed to power AI. Those projects are expected to create 3,400 new jobs, according to McCormick’s office.
The Allentown utility also will be part of a joint venture with Blackstone to develop, own and operate combined-cycle gas generation capacity. The venture is part of $25 billion in investments by Blackstone, which also include a data center and energy infrastructure development in northeast Pennsylvania. Those investments are expected to create 6,000 construction jobs and 3,000 new jobs, according to McCormick’s office.
“We’re excited to leverage the powerful expertise that PPL and Blackstone Infrastructure possess to bring much-needed new dispatchable generation online in Pennsylvania to match new data center load in a way that directly supports economic development and large load customer needs, helps to mitigate rising electricity prices for energy consumers, and delivers increased value for shareowners without traditional merchant power risk,” PPL President and CEO Vincent Sorgi said in a statement.
The joint venture seeks to develop front-of-the-meter generation that sits atop the Marcellus and Utica shale basins; can quickly connect to significant, available gas pipeline capacity; and targets areas of significant data center interest.
“We are excited to partner with PPL to develop generation projects that will help Pennsylvania, and PJM, meet the growing demand for power driven by the digitization of the economy,” said Sebastien Sherman, senior managing director, Blackstone Infrastructure. “Blackstone Infrastructure has a proven track record and commitment to long-term partnerships, and we look forward to working with PPL to power data centers across Pennsylvania and the broader PJM service territory.”
FirstEnergy, the parent company of Met-Ed — the other major electric utility serving the Lehigh Valley — will invest $15 billion to expand power distribution and improve the electricity grid in 56 of the state’s 67 counties. The company will also expand an apprenticeship program with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
“The electric landscape — in Pennsylvania and across the country — is evolving rapidly as economic development and artificial intelligence drive increased electricity demand,” FirstEnergy President and CEO Brian X. Tierney said in a statement. “Meeting this demand while ensuring reliable energy supply requires more dispatchable energy sources and a stronger transmission infrastructure.
“The surge in demand creates both challenge and opportunity,” he said. “FirstEnergy is embracing the opportunity by making strategic investments that enable jobs creation, growth and resilience. Through 2029, FirstEnergy is investing more than $28 billion in capital systemwide to modernize local distribution systems and strengthen the transmission network.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Trump, McCormick team up to promote energy, AI investments in Pennsylvania
Originally Published: July 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM EDT