Pittsburgh event angers climate groups as Trump ties AI expansion to oil and gas, sidelining renewable energy
Donald Trump will join big oil and technology bosses on Tuesday at a major artificial intelligence and energy summit in Pittsburgh, outraging environmentalists and community organizations. The event comes weeks after the passage of a megabill that experts say could stymy AI growth with its attacks on renewable energy.
The inaugural Pennsylvania energy and innovation summit, held at Carnegie Mellon University, will attempt to position the state as an AI leader, showcasing the technological innovation being developed in the city and the widespread availability of fossil fuel reserves to power them.
At the gathering, Trump will announce $70bn in AI and energy investments for the state, Axios first reported, in a move the event’s host, the Republican Pennsylvania senator, Dave McCormick, says will be a boon to local economies.
But activists say the investment, which will boost planet-heating energy production, will have disastrous consequences for the climate and for nearby communities.
“Pennsylvanians are paying the price for decisions made behind closed doors: higher utility bills, contaminated water, poor air quality, and worsening health,” said Hilary Flint, Pennsylvania field organizing manager at the non-profit Center for Oil and Gas Organizing. Flint signed a Tuesday letter to Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, opposing his plans to work with Trump to expand AI, along with dozens of organizations and individuals.
