This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:
Data Center Building Surge & Regulation: Pennsylvania is being positioned as a major data center and AI-infrastructure hub, with private & public investment in the tens of billions. Because of this boom, state legislators have introduced several bills (e.g., the “Data Center Act” and “Data Center Siting & Permitting Act”) to regulate siting, permitting, environmental and community impacts of large data-center builds in Pennsylvania. Key construction-themes: Brownfield & former power-plant sites being reused, requiring remediation; large utility / water / power infrastructure upgrades; workforce & trades implications (lots of construction jobs). READ MORE.
U.S. Government Pledges $80 B to Westinghouse to Build Nuclear Reactors: The U.S. government, together with the owners of Westinghouse, entered into a strategic partnership to construct a new fleet of nuclear reactors worth at least $80 billion. The technology to be used is the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design (and possibly similar large reactor types). The deal was announced in the context of an energy/industrial push: the administration wants to ramp up U.S. nuclear capacity and meet rising electricity demand (including from large data-centers/AI). READ MORE.
Delays & Freezes on Major Infrastructure/Federal Projects: With funding legislation stalled in the U.S. Senate, the government shutdown is causing certain federal projects to freeze: new solicitations are delayed, contract awards are put on hold because federal agency staff (contracting officers, inspectors) are furloughed or unpaid. Example: About $18 billion in funding pending for two large NYC projects (Hudson Tunnel Project & Second Avenue Subway Phase 2) has been put “on hold” amid the shutdown and related investigations. Example: In Chicago, ~$2.1 billion of federal infrastructure funding was paused, affecting the extension of the Red Line in the city’s South Side. READ MORE.
Stay Safe, Stay informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!
Building Pennsylvania 