Kenneth Broadbent: Unions built Pa.; now they can build America’s future
Kenneth Broadbent, business manager of Steamfitters Local 449, argues that data centers are creating significant job opportunities for skilled union labor in Pennsylvania, leveraging the state's natural gas resources and trained workforce. He emphasizes the economic benefits and the need for state legislators to act to position Pennsylvania as a leader in data center development amidst global competition. Construction is underway at the former Homer City Generating Station.
Kenneth Broadbent, business manager for Steamfitters Local 449 in Pittsburgh, asserts that the burgeoning data center industry is revitalizing job prospects for union members in Western Pennsylvania. Drawing on his own career path from college student to steamfitter, Broadbent highlights how data centers are bringing investment back to communities that have experienced job losses, creating sustained demand for skilled tradespeople both during construction and for ongoing operation and maintenance.
The article points to ongoing data center construction at the former Homer City Generating Station as a tangible example of this trend. Broadbent underscores Pennsylvania's unique competitive advantages: a highly skilled workforce and its status as the second-largest natural gas producer in the U.S. He notes that natural gas powers over 40% of U.S. data center electricity and will remain a dominant source through 2030, with some companies even building their own natural gas facilities to meet demand.
Broadbent urges Pennsylvania legislators to act swiftly to capitalize on this demand, positioning the state as a data center hub. He frames this as crucial for America's ability to compete with nations like China, which are heavily investing in AI infrastructure. He concludes by emphasizing that Pennsylvania possesses the necessary workers, energy, and expertise to lead in this sector, promising steady jobs and economic opportunity across the commonwealth.