Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit Shows Bright Future for Keystone State, Essential Utilities’ Gas Infrastructure Will Support American Energy Dominance

Essential subsidiary Peoples Natural Gas, state’s largest gas utility, supporting energy industry innovators forging a better future for Western Pennsylvania and beyond

With the eyes of the energy world on Pennsylvania this week, the state’s largest natural gas utility is at the ready to support data center and related development stemming from the $92 billion in statewide investment announced during Tuesday’s inaugural Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit.

Essential Utilities’ gas division, Peoples Natural Gas, had a presence at the Summit’s expo space for innovative energy and tech companies. Peoples showcased its ongoing hydrogen production pilot with H Quest and the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, with Peoples President Michael Huwar among the energy industry leaders invited to attend the July 15 summit at Carnegie Mellon University.

“Pennsylvania’s abundance of natural gas, combined with our strong labor pools for engineering, robotics and the skilled trades, make this the perfect place to power the AI and energy revolution,” said Huwar. “With 15,000 miles of pipeline throughout the 18 Western Pennsylvania counties Peoples serves, we are ready to lend our expertise in delivering essential energy to support the unprecedented investments announced this week.”

In addition to H Quest, Peoples also works closely with another Energy & Innovation Summit expo presenter, Peoples Energy Analytics (PEA). PEA uses algorithmic analysis of utility customers to better identify those at risk of defaulting on bills and enrolling them in assistance programs. Peoples and Essential are also major supporters of the Energy Innovation Center Institute (EICI), which announced the concept of a new, $135 million Infrastructure Academy Regional Training (IART) Facility for workforce development. Slated to be the nation’s first integrated training and operational site for energy, utility and critical infrastructure workforce training, the IART facility will be located in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Essential Utilities’ ongoing efforts to support innovation and workforce development, combined with its investments to modernize gas, water and wastewater infrastructure showcase its commitment to make life better for its customers, employees, and the communities we serve. Essential has invested more than $5.4 billion in infrastructure modernization since 2020, replacing more than 800 miles of aged gas pipelines in that time as part of a long-term plan to replace 3,000 miles of pipeline by 2035.

For more information, visit www.Essential.co.