KEY FACTS: Amazon has announced a historic $20 billion investment to build two AI and cloud computing data centers in Pennsylvania. This is the largest private-sector investment in the state’s history. The facilities, planned near the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Luzerne County and at the Keystone Trade Center in Bucks County, will create 1,250 high-skilled jobs and thousands of indirect roles in the supply chain. Powered by carbon-free nuclear energy through a partnership with Talen Energy’s Cumulus Data, the project aims to bolster Amazon Web Services’ infrastructure for generative and agentic AI.
Source: About Amazon
Amazon Commits $20 Billion to Build AI Data Centers in Pennsylvania
Amazon has unveiled plans to invest $20 billion in Pennsylvania to construct two advanced data center campuses aimed at boosting its artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing infrastructure. Described as the largest private sector investment in Pennsylvania’s history, the initiative is set to create 1,250 high-skilled jobs, support thousands of additional roles in the data center supply chain, and drive significant economic and technological growth in the state. The announcement, made on June 9, 2025, is an expression of Amazon’s aggressive push to meet the surging demand for generative AI and cloud computing technologies while positioning Pennsylvania as a hub for innovation in the global AI race.
Amazon plans to invest $20 billion in Pennsylvania to expand cloud computing infrastructure and advance AI innovation
Planned investment will establish multiple innovation campuses, create 1,250 jobs, and support new workforce development training programs and local community projects.
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The two data centers will be strategically located to optimize energy efficiency and operational capacity. One facility is planned adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Luzerne County, a move that has drawn attention due to its innovative energy strategy. Amazon has partnered with Talen Energy, a former power utility that has transitioned into a nuclear innovator through its subsidiary, Cumulus Data. This partnership will see the Susquehanna nuclear power station supply carbon-free energy to power the data center, marking one of the largest private-sector nuclear-backed energy deals in the United States. The second data center will be located in Fairless Hills at the Keystone Trade Center, a former U.S. Steel mill site in Bucks County, where industrial land is being repurposed for cutting-edge technology infrastructure.
While Salem Township and Falls Township are the primary candidates for these facilities, Amazon has indicated that other Pennsylvania communities are under consideration for future expansion. This flexibility suggests the company’s long-term vision for scaling its AI infrastructure across the state, with additional sites potentially in development over the next decade.
The $20 billion investment is poised to transform Pennsylvania’s economy. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, speaking at a news conference in Berwick near the Susquehanna nuclear power plant, hailed the project as a historic milestone. The governor emphasized that the investment will not only create high-paying, high-tech jobs but also stimulate local economies through construction and supply chain opportunities. In his words:
“For too long, we’ve watched as talents across Pennsylvania got hollowed out and left behind,” Shapiro said. “No more. Now is our time to rebuild those communities and invest in them.”
Amazon estimates that the project will directly create 1,250 high-skilled positions in fields such as data center operations, network architecture, security management, and engineering oversight. Beyond these direct roles, thousands of additional jobs are expected in construction, local vendor services, and other sectors tied to the data center supply chain. To support this workforce, Amazon is committing to robust training and education programs, including data center technician courses, fiber optic fusion splicing workshops, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiatives for K-12 schools. The company has also pledged $250,000 to a community fund to support local nonprofits in the areas surrounding the data centers.
The Pennsylvania investment is part of Amazon’s strategy to strengthen its position in the rapidly intensifying AI arms race. As demand for generative AI and agentic AI continues to grow, tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI are racing to expand their infrastructure to support these power-hungry technologies. Amazon’s cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS), is at the forefront of this effort, providing the backbone for AI applications that require vast computational resources. Amazon emphasized its commitment to securing the United States as a global leader in AI innovation, with Pennsylvania’s abundant energy resources, skilled workforce, and proximity to major population centers making it an ideal location for this ambitious project. Amazon stated in its June 9 announcement, thus:
“Our strategic investments in advanced computing infrastructure and specialized AI hardware are building the technology backbone for the next generation of generative and agentic AI...”
The decision to build one of the data centers next to a nuclear power plant reflects the growing energy demands of AI infrastructure. Data centers supporting AI and cloud computing require significant power for servers, storage, network systems, and cooling equipment. Amazon is leveraging carbon-free nuclear energy to enhance the sustainability of its operations while addressing the environmental concerns associated with the energy-intensive nature of AI data centers.
Amazon’s investment in Pennsylvania follows a series of similar commitments across the United States, signaling a nationwide push to expand its AI and cloud computing footprint. Just days before the Pennsylvania announcement, on June 4, 2025, Amazon revealed a $10 billion investment in North Carolina to establish a high-tech cloud computing and AI innovation campus in Richmond County. That project is expected to create at least 500 jobs and includes similar workforce development and STEM education initiatives. Amazon has also announced a $5 billion investment in cloud infrastructure in Taiwan, highlighting the global scope of its AI ambitions.
Pennsylvania’s selection as the site for this historic investment was no accident. Governor Shapiro noted that the deal was the result of 20 months of negotiations between Amazon, state officials, and local leaders. The state’s competitive advantages, including its vast energy resources, skilled workforce, and elite research institutions like Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, and the University of Pennsylvania, were key factors in Amazon’s decision. Additionally, Pennsylvania is offering millions, and potentially tens of millions, in incentives to support the project, including a $10 million investment in training programs at schools, community colleges, and union halls to prepare workers for the high-tech roles the data centers will demand. Amazon will also benefit from the state’s existing sales tax exemption on data center equipment purchases, further sweetening the deal.
Amazon’s $20 billion investment in Pennsylvania is a significant one for the state and the tech industry. Amazon is establishing state-of-the-art data centers powered by nuclear energy to expand its AI and cloud computing capabilities as well as set a precedent for sustainable infrastructure development. The project follows competitors like Meta, which is exploring a $200 billion AI data center project, and OpenAI, which announced a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure over the next four years, and intensifies their efforts to dominate the AI sector.
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