From Coal to Code: The Appalachian Region’s Bold Leap into the AI Economy

For generations, the Appalachian region powered America—its coal fueling homes, factories, and the rise of the modern economy. But as smokestacks went quiet and jobs faded, too many communities were left behind, their potential buried beneath ash and uncertainty.

Now, a new opportunity is rising from those very same grounds.

The Next Chapter: Coal Plants Reborn as AI Data Centers

Artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of global industry. But AI isn’t magic—it needs energy, space, cooling, connectivity, and skilled people. Remarkably, the very coal-fired power plants that once ran our cities are tailor-made to serve as launchpads for this new digital revolution.

The Appalachian region stands uniquely ready to lead this transformation.

The Vision Taking Shape

Consider Homer City, Pennsylvania—once a 2-gigawatt coal powerhouse. Today, it’s being reborn as a $10 billion gas-powered AI and data center campus. The infrastructure is already in place: high-capacity grid connections, robust water systems, and extensive industrial land, all ready to serve the needs of tomorrow’s digital economy.

This is more than adaptive reuse—it’s regenerative development. It’s taking the industrial past and turning it into a launchpad for digital leadership.

Why the Appalachian Region Is Primed to Lead

The Appalachian region is not just suitable for this transformation—it’s ideal. Here's why:

• Legacy Infrastructure: The region is home to over 80 decommissioned coal plant sites, with existing transmission lines, road networks, and water access.
• Workforce Potential: Generations of skilled tradespeople and technicians are eager for new purpose and opportunities close to home.
• Community Resilience: These communities have endured decades of industrial decline and are ready for investment and renewal.
• Strategic Geography: Proximity to major population centers, abundant natural gas, and fiber optic backbones make the region well-positioned to serve growing AI and cloud demands.
• Established Manufacturing Supply Chains: The Appalachian region already supports a deep, agile manufacturing base—from precision machining and metalworking to electrical systems and construction services—providing essential capabilities for building and maintaining data center infrastructure.
• Federal Support: Legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS and Science Act is directing significant resources to coal-impacted areas ready to retool for the future.

A Blueprint for Renewal

Repurposing coal plants isn’t just a clever fix—it’s a catalyst for regional rebirth. With thoughtful planning, the Appalachian region can become the backbone of a thriving, inclusive, and ethically grounded AI economy.

Key priorities to make this vision real include:

• Aligning local and federal policy to streamline permitting, grid interconnection, and access to development funds
• Mobilizing private investment to support site transformation and job creation
• Investing in workforce development to ensure local residents have pathways into high-tech careers
• Pursuing low-carbon energy solutions that make these centers resilient and sustainable

The Bigger Idea: Purposeful Innovation

The Appalachian region doesn’t need to be “saved.” It needs to be seen—for its strengths, its heart, and its hunger to be part of what’s next. AI data centers are just the beginning. With the right partnerships, this region can become a national model for sustainable innovation and shared prosperity.

The coal era powered a nation. Now, the Appalachian region can power its future—not with extraction, but with imagination.

From Legacy to Leadership

This is the Appalachian region’s moment. Not to replicate Silicon Valley, but to build something better—a future rooted in community, resilience, and pride. When we turn coal into code, we’re not just redeveloping land—we’re redeeming potential.

The Appalachian region can lead the next great American transition. Let’s help make that future real.