TechVibe Pittsburgh

Are data centers really creating jobs in Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Region?

Brian Kennedy of the Pittsburgh Technology Council joins TechVibe to unpack the new Data Center and Energy study and reveal why the answer is much bigger than most people think. This conversation explores how Pennsylvania is positioned to win across the full value chain by building and hosting data centers, producing power, and manufacturing critical components for the grid and digital infrastructure.

Kennedy shares eye-opening numbers, including $29 billion in exports tied to data center operations and the state's standing as the nation's top electricity exporter, while making the case that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for workers, manufacturers, and communities across the region.

Most companies aim for growth. Astrobotic is aiming for the moon — quite literally.

For nearly two decades, this Pittsburgh-based space company has been building the technology to make lunar exploration not just possible, but practical. And with its upcoming Griffin lander mission, that vision is about to take a giant leap forward.

Set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, Griffin will deliver a massive rover to the moon's south pole — one of the most scientifically and economically important regions in space. Why there? Because beneath its shadowed craters lies water ice, a resource that could be transformed into oxygen, drinking water, and even rocket fuel.

In other words, the moon isn't just a destination. It's a launchpad.

Astrobotic is at the center of that transformation, developing not only delivery systems but also the infrastructure needed for sustained lunar presence. Its LunaGrid technology — a network of solar power stations designed to operate in extreme conditions — could provide the energy backbone for future missions.

But what makes Astrobotic especially Pittsburgh is its commitment to community. Through the Moonshot Museum, the company invites the public to watch spacecraft being built in real time, turning complex aerospace engineering into something tangible and inspiring.

CEO John Thornton sees this as more than a business. It's a chance to show that space innovation doesn't have to live in distant government labs — it can thrive right in a neighborhood, accessible to anyone curious enough to look through the glass.

As the space economy accelerates toward a $600 billion industry, Astrobotic is positioning Pittsburgh as a key launch point — not just for rockets, but for the next generation of explorers, engineers, and dreamers.

Could the future of robotics look less like science fiction and more like a really powerful toolbox?

In this episode, TechVibe teams up with Fireside Chats to explore HEBI Robotics. The team at HEBI Robotics shares how it is making robot-building faster, simpler, and far more practical through modular technology designed to help innovators solve real problems. HEBI's mission is to "make it easier to build robots," and that vision is opening doors in industrial settings, advanced prototyping, and even future space applications.

Hit play for a smart look at Pittsburgh robotics, the push to make complex systems easier to build, and the kind of engineering culture that pairs serious innovation with a sense of fun. If you want to hear where robotics is headed and why HEBI thinks tomorrow's best machines will simply feel like better tools, this one is worth your time.

The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation industries.

What does the AI and data center boom look like from the skilled trades? Shawn Steffey of the Boilermakers makes the case that none of this future gets built without the people who build energy infrastructure in the first place.

He talks about Pennsylvania's long leadership in electricity generation, the role of union labor and the building trades, and why the Commonwealth needs a serious bipartisan energy plan if it wants to seize this moment. This is a passionate conversation about careers, workforce, and the blue-collar backbone of the tech economy.

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Randy Vulakovich breaks down one of the summit's clearest takeaways: Pennsylvania is already in the data center game, but it has not yet captured the full opportunity. Based on the newly released study, he explains how the Commonwealth is already producing power and manufacturing critical equipment, but still needs to win more of the actual data center development itself.

The conversation covers Pennsylvania's "three-legged stool" opportunity, the challenge of local approvals, and why community education will be critical if the state wants to turn energy and industrial capacity into lasting economic growth.

A special thanks to Comcast for powering this podcast!

Justine Kasznica of Babst Calland explains why the "Empire of Lights" story is about far more than data center hype. She joins TechVibe to talk about the powerful manufacturing base behind Pennsylvania's AI opportunity, the Westinghouse and Tesla legacy still shaping the region, and why companies like Eos, Eaton, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, and Emerson matter so much in the larger picture.

She also gets into the two issues that could define Pennsylvania's success: grid reliability and speed. It is a smart conversation about how legal, policy, and industrial strategy all have to line up if the Commonwealth wants to lead.

A special thanks to Comcast for powering this podcast!

What does America's AI race look like from the U.S. Department of Energy? At the PA Data Center and Energy Innovation Summit, Acting Under Secretary of Energy Alex Fitzsimmons joins TechVibe to talk about why energy and AI are now inseparable, how the Marcellus Shale changed the nation's energy position, and why speed-to-power is becoming a defining competitive advantage.

He also explains how the administration is thinking about ratepayer protection, domestic energy abundance, and the role regions like Pittsburgh can play in powering the next generation of AI infrastructure. This is a big-picture conversation about energy dominance, technology leadership, and why Pennsylvania is right in the thick of it.

A special thanks to Comcast for powering this podcast!

How do batteries help solve one of the biggest bottlenecks in AI and data center growth? Michelle Buczkowski of Eos Energy breaks down how long-duration storage can smooth power demand, reduce congestion, and support the kind of fast, flexible energy response modern data centers need. S

he explains why Eos is building in Pittsburgh, how its zinc-based battery technology differs from conventional options, and why safety, stackability, and speed matter so much in the real world. It is a sharp look at the role energy storage could play in making AI infrastructure more resilient and more practical.

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Chris Massetti of Donwil brings a ground-level perspective to the AI infrastructure boom, explaining why data centers have always been an energy story as much as a technology story. In this conversation, he reflects on Donwil's 60-year history in the data center business, why AI is only increasing the need for power and cooling, and how Pennsylvania can compete more aggressively with states like Ohio. He also talks about the rise of liquid cooling, the service jobs being created around AI facilities, and why the Commonwealth has the ingredients to win, even if it still has a few hills to climb.

A special thanks to Comcast for powering these podcasts!

What if the next great tech boom in Pittsburgh isn't being coded in a startup… but powered by electrons, infrastructure, and the invisible backbone of data?

In this episode of TechVibe Radio, Audrey Russo, CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, pulls back the curtain on her latest TEQ Magazine President's Note—where energy, data centers, and innovation collide to shape the region's next economic chapter. Drawing on Pittsburgh's unique mix of legacy energy assets and emerging tech strength, Russo explores how the region is positioning itself as a serious contender in the rapidly expanding data center economy.

Why hit play?

• A new lens on Pittsburgh's future: Discover why energy isn't just a utility—it's becoming a strategic advantage for attracting data centers and powering AI-driven growth.

• Inside the opportunity (and tension): From massive investments to community concerns and grid capacity, Russo breaks down the real stakes behind the headlines.

• A preview of what's next: Get a front-row seat to the upcoming PA Data Center and Energy Innovation Summit—and why it could be a defining moment for business, policy, and innovation in the region.

• Big picture thinking: Learn how Pittsburgh's blend of industry, infrastructure, and embedded tech talent is creating a different kind of innovation ecosystem—one rooted in real-world impact.

If you want to understand where Pittsburgh's tech economy is headed next—and how energy and data are becoming its new steel—this conversation is your roadmap.