Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh energy and AI summit draws critiques, hopes for new investment
An artificial intelligence summit convened in Pittsburgh on Tuesday by Republican Sen. David McCormick is drawing praise from local business leaders, but outcry from community and labor groups.
The Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University promises to gather the world’s top leaders in energy and AI along with global investors, labor and trades leaders, and government officials. McCormick said the event will showcase Pennsylvania’s potential to power the AI revolution.
Local business leaders agreed.
“As a company rooted in Pennsylvania and driven by innovation, we believe the region is uniquely positioned to lead. The Summit represents a meaningful step forward in aligning our country’s energy strength with the transformative potential of AI,” said EQT spokesperson Amy Rogers. The natural gas company will attend the event.
But on the outskirts of campus Monday morning, Democratic U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, whose 12th congressional district includes Pittsburgh, spoke out about President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at the summit.
Surrounded by representatives from SEIU Local 32BJ and immigrant rights group Casa San Jose, Lee criticized McCormick and Trump for holding a gathering of the rich and powerful in Pittsburgh, after passing a massive spending and tax bill that cuts programs people in Western Pennsylvania rely on.
“There are new people every day who are harmed by their tactics, by their policies, and it is incumbent on us to let them know who did this to them,” Lee said.
Hundreds of CMU students and alumni signed onto a petition asking the university to stop the event.
“By hosting this summit, at which major fossil fuel, oil, and AI executives, along with Donald Trump himself, will be present, CMU cannot claim to defend sustainability, freedom of speech, or democracy in good faith,” the petition said.
In a Monday message to the CMU community, President Farnam Jahanian said he recognizes the decision to host the summit has prompted concern.
“Let me be clear: as I have shared in the past, when we have significant policy disagreements with this Administration — regarding cuts to research funding and support for international students, for example — we have defended our position and vigorously advocated for higher education,” Jahanian said.
“Universities must remain places where divergent perspectives can be expressed freely and peacefully,” Jahanian added.
A CMU spokesperson reiterated that message Monday, saying the summit will include “an exposition where CMU experts and faculty, as well as other academic institutions, will have the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and policymakers.”
Momentum for Pittsburgh
Energy groups and members of the business community are welcoming the event.
Dave Mawhinney, the founding executive director of CMU’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and an entrepreneur himself, said the event is symbolic for Pittsburgh.
”It’s taking advantage of the great strengths that we have here, but I think that it will actually start to create momentum and attention for this region,” Mawhinney said.
Mawhinney said the combination of educational resources at Pittsburgh universities and energy resources — including natural gas and Pennsylvania’s nuclear fleet that can be used to power tech ventures in data centers — can attract outside investment.
“ I think it’s creating — what we say in the venture capital world and startup world — a flywheel: That success breeds more success and that the more success you have, the bigger and faster you become,” he said.
Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, said the summit is very positive for Pittsburgh, which she said has a desire for growth.
“There’s an appetite for welcoming new companies and investments and I think that there’s the know-how to put together partnerships and relationships,” she said.
Marcellus Shale Coalition president Jim Welty said Pennsylvania natural gas can power AI infrastructure, creating a “win-win” for the economy, tradespeople, and national security.
But some in the CMU community warn that AI functions use more energy than other computing tasks. Advocates are concerned more data centers connected to the electric grid could cause a number of problems, including higher electric bills for residential customers. And if the energy for AI is drawn from fossil-fuel powered sources, it could drive up carbon emissions, which are already having an impact on the planet.
“There’s gonna be more booms in fracking,” said Carrie McDonough, an assistant chemistry professor at CMU researching pollutants.
At a press conference hosted by CMU College Democrats Monday, McDonough said techniques used to extract fossil fuels will worsen hazardous air and water pollutants in a region that has struggled to maintain clean air.
Other speakers said the White House has also sought to drastically scale back federal research grants, which many CMU professors rely on. Jess Vinskus, vice president of the Graduate Student Assembly at CMU and leader in its Academic Workers Union, said that hosting the summit “is showing CMU where their priorities are. And it doesn’t feel like it’s with us.”
McDonough said none of CMU’s environmental experts were invited, though the school said Monday that faculty from the school and others would have a chance to engage with summit participants.
“ I’m concerned that this is part of kind of a larger indication that CMU here is willing to contradict its own values for a national spotlight,” she said.
Not invited to attend were Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and the county’s economic development department. A spokesperson declined further comment.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a strong showing so far in the Grapefruit League, but suffered a surprising defeat.
The Pirates lost 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., taking just their third defeat in Spring Training so far, dropping to 9-3 in the Grapefruit League.
Pittsburgh saw their five-game winning streak come to an end, but they are still level with the New York Yankees at the top of the Grapefruit League standings.
This game also came after the first off day for the Pirates on March 4 and a 7-1 win over Team Colombia in an exhibition at LECOM Park on March 3.
How the Pirates Fell to the Cardinals
Pirates right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller made his third start in the Grapefruit League and threw three scoreless innings, before giving up a solo home run to Cardinals third baseman Nolan Gorman on a slider down in the zone, putting the road team up 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
That represented the first run that Keller gave up all Spring Training and Pirates left-handed relief pitcher Derek Diamond came in for him after he gave up a single to Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker.
Keller has just a 1.23 ERA over 7.1 innings for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League, a good start for the veteran on the starting rotation.
St. Louis loaded the bases against Pirates left-handed relief pitcher Evan Sisk in the top of the fifth inning with three walks, but Sisk struckout top prospect in shortstop JJ Wetherholt and forced Gorman into a double play to keep it a one-run game.
Pirates right-handed relief pitcher Chris Devenski gave up a run in the top of the sixth inning, as he walked second baseman Ramón Urías, who stole second base, then gave up a single to catcher Pedro Pagés, doubling the Cardinals’ lead at 2-0.
The Pirates tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, as shortstop Alika Williams hit a two-run home run off of Cardinals left-handed pitcher Quinn Mathews.
Pirates right-handed relief pitcher Cam Sanders gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning, hitting leadoff batter Joshua Baez with a pitch and then giving up a single to pinch-hitter Jimmy Crooks to make it 3-2.
Right fielder Ryan O’Hearn had a strong showing for the Pirates in the loss to the Cardinals with two hits in two at-bats. He is now slashing .462/.563/.769 for an OPS of 1.332 in six Grapefruit League games.
Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia had a hit off the bench for the Pirates, as he is now slashing .533/.611/.733 for an OPS of 1.344 in seven games.
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Pittsburg, PA
As his polarizing Pitt career winds down, a banged-up Cam Corhen has saved his best for last
Along with the best football prospects the season has to offer, the NFL Draft promises to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Pittsburgh from April 23 to 25.
If the turnout approaches that of Detroit in 2023, those descending on the North Shore and Downtown could reach 700,000 over the three days. For reference, that’s more than 10 times Acrisure Stadium’s 68,400 seats, and more than double the city’s roughly 308,000 residents.
Where will they stay? How will they get around?
Event planners at VisitPittsburgh say the city is up to the task.
“They picked us out of several cities because we have the infrastructure,” said Perry Ivery, general manager of the Oaklander Hotel and board chair of VisitPittsburgh.
Last year, Wisconsin’s Green Bay comfortably accommodated a unique visitor count three times its 106,000 population, according to residents and local leaders.
Rooms Enough?
Ivery said there are some 26,000 hotel rooms across the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, the bulk of which are concentrated in and around Downtown.
Even if each room holds two to four people, the total still appears to fall short. But Ivery said many attendees will be locals, whether from Pittsburgh, surrounding counties or neighboring states within a day’s drive.
Plus, a high proportion of out-of-town guests could have Pittsburgh roots and a free bed to claim in a family home, he added.
There are also around 3,500 units available for short-term rental in and around Pittsburgh through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.
“We’re all working together to make sure everybody has a great hospitality experience in the City of Pittsburgh,” Ivery said.
Infrastructure from roads to parking, and bus and light rail routes, will also feel the strain.
Strain on the Train?
Pittsburgh Regional Transit normally services around 100,000 riders on an average weekday, across its entire network. Spokesperson Adam Brandolph said the agency is prepared for the transit demands of what’s expected to be the biggest event the city has hosted.
“We’re confident that we’ll be able to meet the needs of visitors to the draft as well as daily riders,” he said, noting “no major closures or detours” are planned for the event other than the University Line project, which may see less construction during that week.
Brandolph said the agency is finalizing plans and intends to make more information public soon.
A spokesperson for VisitPittsburgh said a local committee is working with a range of stakeholders including transportation agencies, engineering partners and local government “to deliver a coordinated and comprehensive plan for the region.”
“This includes collaboration with public transit agencies on adjusted service plans, clearly marked detour routes, designated rideshare zones and proactive communication with residents, businesses and commuters,” said Alex Kenzakoski, communications director for VisitPittsburgh.
“Our shared goal is to minimize disruption, keep the region moving and make travel as predictable and seamless as possible for both fans and locals.”
Kenzakoski said details on road closures, transit adjustments and travel guidance will be made known ahead of the draft, and encouraged fans to download the NFL OnePass app for transportation information and updates.
Ivery said a successful draft week execution could line Pittsburgh up for future hosting prospects.
“There’re going to be folks that come in that have never been to Pittsburgh … This is a case to showcase our town, and our hotels,” he said.
“We’re friendly, we have grit, we’re very excited to showcase that we can do large-scale activities.”
This story first appeared in Pittsburgh’s Public Source. Read the original here.
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