Gov. Shapiro To Convene 13-State Summit Sept. 22 On Critical Changes Needed At PJM To Keep Energy Costs Low, Bring New Electricity To Grid, Serve Power Demands Of A.I. Data Centers

On September 18, Gov. Shapiro announced that on Monday, September 22, he will convene representatives of all 13 PJM governors and key stakeholders from across the 13 state region served by the PJM electrical grid to discuss the critical changes that PJM must make to keep energy costs low, bring new electricity onto the grid quickly, and meet the needs of 65 million Americans at the Summit of the State of PJM Interconnection.

In addition to the Governors, participants include--

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman David Rosner

-- Fmr. FERC Chairman Mark Christie

-- Fmr. FERC Commissioner Allison Clements

-- PJM CEO Manu Asthana

-- Energy leaders from across the PJM region

The Summit will be held at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.  Gov. Shapiro speaks at 9:00 a.m.

The Summit will be available online: https://pacast.com/live/gov. 

Click Here for media advisory.

Resource Links - A.I. Data Centers:

-- Gov. Shapiro To Convene 13-State Summit Sept. 22 On Critical Changes Needed At PJM To Keep Energy Costs Low, Bring New Electricity To Grid, Serve Power Demands Of A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Team PA Releases PA Energy, Data Center, A.I. RoadMap, Includes ‘Aggressively Streamlining Permitting,' Establishing Regional Permitting Commissions  [PaEN]

-- PUC Chairman: Model Tariff For Connecting A.I. Data Centers To Local Electric Grid To Be Published For Comment By End Of September  [PaEN] 

-- Guest Essay: Rewriting The Energy Story — Together - By Stephen M. DeFrank, Chairman, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission  [PaEN]

-- NRDC: Another Proposed PJM Plan To Deal With Massive A.I. Data Center Electricity Demands Fails To Protect Consumers, Will Increase Electricity Bills Up To $100 Billion From 2028 To 2032  [PaEN]

-- PA Senate Republicans Introduce Bill To Eliminate Need For Any State Permits, Any Public Review Of Permits Before Construction Of A.I. Data Centers, Related Power Plants  [PaEN] 

-- PUC: Brace For Higher Electric Bills As A Result Of Soaring Power Use; Consumers Should Review Energy Options  [PaEN]

-- Independent Fiscal Office: Residential Electricity Bills ‘Begin Surge:’ Natural Gas Prices Up 71%, PJM Prices Up Due To A.I. Data Center Demand  [PaEN]

-- PJM Electricity Auction: PJM Lost 2.8 Gigawatts Of Power Due To Reduced Reliability Rating Of Natural Gas Power Plants; Could Gain 12.2 Gigawatts By Increasing Reliability From Less Than 75% Now To An Achievable 90% [PaEN]

-- 30 Stakeholder Comments Received By PUC On Adequacy Of Electricity Supplies In Pennsylvania; Increasing Natural Gas Power Plant Reliability To 90-95% Would Mean No Imminent Capacity Problem

-- PJM Electric Auction Impacts: 1 In 5 PA Households Report Problems Now Paying Energy Bills; Electric Utility Shutoffs Up 38.1% So Far This Year [PaEN]

-- What The A.I. Data Center & Energy Summit Missed: Exploding Electricity Demand Already Raising Prices - Ratepayers Need Protection; No Longer An ‘All Of The Above’ Energy Strategy [PaEN]

-- What The A.I. Data Center & Energy Summit Missed: It’s Deja Vu - False Promises, Dirty Power - Our People And Communities Deserve Respect  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: To Communities Facing Rapid A.I. Data Center Development: Review Your Zoning Ordinance NOW, Before It's Too Late To Have Meaningful Siting, Mitigation Conversations [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: DEP Primer: Recurring Challenges Of A.I. Data Centers: Frequent Site Plan Changes, Inconsistent Zoning, Outdated Sewage Facilities, Limited Community Outreach  [PaEN]

-- Senate Hearing: Susquehanna River Basin Commission - A.I. Data Centers Have A Dramatic Demand For Water, And The Potential To Be Among The Largest Water Consumers In The Basin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- Gov. Shapiro To Convene 13-State Summit Sept. 22 On Critical Changes Needed At PJM To Keep Energy Costs Low, Bring New Electricity To Grid, Serve Power Demands Of A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN]

-- Team PA Releases PA Energy, Data Center, A.I. RoadMap, Includes ‘Aggressively Streamlining Permitting,' Establishing Regional Permitting Commissions  [PaEN]

-- NRDC: Another Proposed PJM Plan To Deal With Massive A.I. Data Center Electricity Demands Fails To Protect Consumers, Will Increase Electricity Bills Up To $100 Billion From 2028 To 2032  [PaEN]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week -  September 22  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Inside Climate News - Kyle Bagenstose: The A.I. Boom Is Coming For Pennsylvania, How Will Lawmakers Respond? 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Proposed EPA Rule Allowing Construction Of A.I. Data Centers Before Air Permits Are In-Hand Undermines Clean Air Protections, Environmentalists Say

-- NextPittsburgh: What Does Pittsburgh Gain From Becoming A Global A.I. Hub?  Residents Questioned The True Costs Of Local A.I. Development 

-- TribLive: DEP Faces Citizen Concerns About Air Permit For 4.5 Gigawatt Natural Gas Power Plant For The 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Complex In Indiana County 

-- DEP To Hold Sept. 17 Meeting/Hearing On Proposed 4.5 Gigawatt Natural Gas Power Plant At Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County 

-- TribLive: DEP Gives Preliminary Nod To Homer City A.I. Data Center Power Plant, But Environmental Groups Sounds Alarm Regarding Pollution

-- Scranton Times: Powering NorthPoint 1,250 Acre HazelNut A.I. Data Center: What To Expect From NE PA’s Largest Data Center Project In Luzerne County; Other Projects In Lackawanna, Schuylkill Counties  [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times: Developer Shifts Project From Warehouse To A.I. Data Center By Gas Power Plant In Jessup, Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]   [Information Obtained Thru Right To Know Request]

-- The Citizens Voice: PA Consumer Advocate To Investigate PPL’s Proposed 12-Mile Power Line Project To Feed A.I. Data Center In Luzerne County [PDF of Article]  

-- LancasterOnline: Developer Of 2 A.I. Data Centers In Lancaster Wants Judge To Block Lancaster City Zoning Appeal By Resident 

-- Utility Dive: Blackstone To Pay $1 Billion For 620 MW PA Natural Gas Power Plant In Greene County [Part Of $25 Billion Plan To Support Build Out Of PA A.I. Data Infrastructure] 

-- Observer-Reporter: Investment Firm Purchases Hill Top Energy Power Plant In Greene County To Support A.I. Data Center Development

-- Blackstone Private Equity Announced Purchase Of 620 MW Hill Top Energy Center Natural Gas Power Plant In Greene County To Power A.I. Data Center Build Out 

-- EPA Convenes A.I. Roundtable Highlighting Permitting Reform To Make US The A.I. Capital of The World 

-- Financial Times: Surging US Power Costs Defy President’s Pledge To Halve Power Bills

-- US DOE Seeks Information On How Best To Support Large-Scale Power Generation, Transmission Projects To Feed A.I. Infrastructure, Data Centers  

-- Reuters: US Launches Effort To Speed Power Grid Projects To Support A.I. Infrastructure

[Posted: September 19, 2025]  PA Environment Digest