Salena Zito urges outreach to bridge blue-collar workers and data-center growth

Salena Zito, speaking on a journalist at one outlet, highlighted the disconnect between blue-collar workers and the expanding data-center sector in Pennsylvania. She explained that repeated warnings that AI will eliminate jobs have created a fear of the unknown, while worries about water depletion, higher electricity rates and noise further fuel resistance. Zito pointed out that the state’s high-voltage electric infrastructure, originally built for coal-fired plants, offers a solid foundation for data-center operations and can revitalize local tax bases.

However, she said both industry leaders and workers lack effective communication channels, proposing the use of “ambassadors” to bridge that gap. According to Zito, such outreach could turn data-center projects into the “blue-collar advancement” many workers have awaited for decades. She urged Big Tech to make a concerted effort to build trust with these communities, emphasizing the potential for well-paid, sustainable employment.