MONROE, NJ (May 22, 2025) – Data Center Construction: The Backbone of AI, the New Jersey Alliance for Action’s inaugural data center event, brought together a standing room only crowd of over 200 to learn about how data centers are being built, the workforce that will build them and how to get involved.
“Data centers are the unsung heroes of the digital world, quietly powering everything we do, every day,” said New Jersey Alliance for Action President Jerry Keenan. “We all know that this is next big thing in construction for New Jersey and the Alliance for Action is here to ensure that New Jersey leads the way in developing data centers.”
This morning’s audience heard from the state’s most knowledgeable government, labor, utility and contracting experts on the topic.
Event Chair and PSE&G Vice President Ed Gray, laid out the broad landscape of the upcoming data center building opportunities.
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) CEO Tim Sullivan underscored governmental commitment in NJ through the new AI initiative with Princeton University. It’s intended to position the state as a unique AI hub, along with the Next NJ AI Program.
PSE&G Senior Director of Customer Care Nicole Swan Bennett outlined steps the state’s largest utility will take to meet the power demand. It’s called JERSEY READY.
PSEG has handled data centers for the NYC financial world for decades. They already support 70 data centers in the state.
FirstEnergy Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Abigail Phillips addressed the “energy trilemma”: costs, sustainability and security. New Jersey often imports energy at peak times and new energy generation is extremely capital intensive, yet necessary. She foresaw an opportunity window of five years.
Russo Development COO Michael Pembroke addressed the challenges from the commercial development sector as the power needs of data centers have increased exponentially.
Cushman & Wakefield Director of Data Center Advisory – Americas Michael Koeller spoke to the need. Projections for NJ’s need for data centers are expected to grow near 5% annually .
The following panel discussion included:
- Kenneth Sheehan, Moderator, Counsel at Genova Burns LLC
- Thomas Coyne, Business Representative at International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68
- Joseph Checkley, President & Business Manager at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 94
- Jonathan Harty, Senior Estimator at Vollers
- Nathan Florio, Principal of Deloitte Transactions & Business Analytics LLP
Key benefits remain NJ’s central location and its proximity to the financial hub that is New York City. Of great interest was the opportunity for data centers on repurposed ” brownfields” sites.
Data Center Construction is a vital infrastructure need and a once in a generation emerging opportunity for the construction industry. Don’t miss out on invaluable discussion, details, news, and connections and register for your next NJ Alliance for Action event here.
Since 1974, The New Jersey Alliance for Action has worked as a non-partisan and non-profit association representing thousands of business, labor, government, utility, education, professional, and other New Jersey leaders. Our mission is to improve New Jersey’s economy through the promotion of environmentally friendly capital construction and infrastructure investment.
