Innovative Education Meets Industry Leaders at Lackawanna College
Lackawanna College students are gearing up to become the future leaders in natural gas, petroleum, and robotics industries, according to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. During a visit to the college, Burgum emphasized the promising career opportunities awaiting these students as they step into key sectors of the economy.
Speaking at the new facility on Wyoming Avenue, Burgum stated, “They’re at this point in their life where these industries are going to explode. The opportunities are going to be incredible for them in their careers.” His visit coincided with ongoing construction on the college’s upcoming Center for Technology Innovation, which is slated to open in the fall.
Accompanied by U.S. Representatives Rob Bresnahan and Dan Meuser, Burgum praised their efforts, saying, “These guys, supporting this kind of education, what they’re doing in Washington, D.C., to support the policies that support energy, that support innovation, that support growth, that support manufacturing jobs coming back to America. I can’t thank both of them enough, because they’re helping. They’re on the cutting edge of helping drive a true renaissance in America.”
During his tour, Burgum was shown a robot programmed by students to accurately shoot a basketball, illustrating the practical skills students are acquiring. Lackawanna College President Jill Murray noted Burgum’s engagement, remarking, “He really was focused on energy. And, you know, he comes from with a tech background, and he understands the need for skilled trades and overall education and business focus and entrepreneurship.”
The Department of Interior’s Mission
The Department of Interior, responsible for vast federal lands and resources, is crucial in the nation’s energy strategy. Burgum highlighted the department’s role in energy development, stating, “Whether it’s developing energy from our oceans, whether it’s developing energy, you know, onshore, whether that’s oil, gas, coal, etc., all that energy development, all the permitting for oil and gas on federal land, all comes out of Interior.”
Burgum, also chairing the National Energy Dominance Council, emphasized the importance of having enough energy to export to allies rather than adversaries. He advocated for environmentally friendly energy production by noting, “So with us producing more energy, great for the environment, because the U.S .does it cleaner, better, safer, but it’s also great for prosperity at home. Makes things affordable.”
He further discussed the economic impact of energy development by citing the Bakken Formation in North Dakota as an example where energy initiatives have bolstered the local economy, reduced taxes, and funded parks, embodying the compatibility of energy and recreation.
Data Centers and Future Opportunities
The conversation also turned to the burgeoning data center industry in Northeast Pennsylvania. Burgum and the National Energy Dominance Council are working to keep energy costs low, which has sparked interest in data center campuses. Burgum pointed out the advantages of having “AI manufacturing” facilities, stating, “In North Dakota, we added AI manufacturing, and lowered electric prices. We added AI manufacturing and didn’t touch anything related to water or water usage or water quality. And we helped lower the property taxes for everybody in the area.”
He encouraged local communities to embrace these data centers, seeing them as future economic drivers. Rep. Meuser echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for safe and responsible development of these facilities, particularly in rural and industrial-zoned areas.
Both leaders recognized the transformative potential of AI manufacturing and data centers, with Meuser concluding, “The benefits of the community come second, and the long-term opportunity to our economy fits right in there, and that’s what we need to find.”
