In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 22

Here are Articles and NewsClips on A.I. and data center issues from last week you may have missed--

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

Energy Costs

-- PJM Electricity Auction Prices Again At Cap Imposed By Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuit Settlement, Without It Prices Would Be 59% Higher Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand; Grid Reliability Now Questioned  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Capacity Prices Hit Record High As Grid Operator Falls Short Of Reliability Target; 6.6 GW Shortfall Could Trigger Reliability Backstop Auction 

-- Utility Dive: FERC Members Raise Alarms About PJM Failure To Meet Reliability Target; Next Load Forecast Could Be Significantly Lower Due To Stricter Vetting Of Data Center Projects

-- Reuters: Prices In PJM Power Auction Hit New Record, Signaling Higher Utility Bills Ahead 

-- Bloomberg: Pressure Mounts To Fix PJM Grid As Electricity Costs Hit New Highs 

-- Bloomberg: Latest PJM Power Auction Set To Deepen Affordability Concerns

-- KDKA: PA Lawmakers Exploring How To Regulate A.I. Data Centers, Which Drive Up Resident’s Utility Bills

-- Bloomberg: American LNG Export Boom Means Goodbye To Cheap US Natural Gas

-- Inside Climate News: LNG Gas Exports Driving Up Americans’ Energy Bills, Report Says

Grid

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PA, NJ, DE Could See Increased Risk Of Power Outages Due To PJM Supply And Demand Crunch On Regional Grid 

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Orders PJM To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Connect Directly To Power Plants, Expedite Connections For Shovel-Ready Projects, Enhance Load Forecasting  [PaEN] 

-- AP: FERC Orders PJM To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Plug Right Into Power Plants In Scramble For Energy 

-- Utility Dive: FERC Orders PJM To Craft New A.I. Data Center Colocation Connection Rules

-- Reuters: FERC Directs PJM To Set New A.I. Data Center Rules On Direct Connection To Power Plants

-- PA Capital-Star: FERC Says More Clarity Needed On How A.I. Data Centers Connect To Power Sources

-- Utility Dive: Electric Utility Large Load Tariffs Could Streamline Interconnection By Shrinking Queues, Report [Now, Anyone With An Acre Of Land For A Data Center Is Putting In An Interconnection Request] 

-- PUC Votes To Develop Rulemaking To Modernize Electric Interconnection Regulations; Proposed Rule Due In March  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Outlines Long-Term Electric Transmission Plan In FERC Filing 

-- Bloomberg: New York Utility Says Queue For A.I. Data Center Power Users Has Tripled

-- WGEM: Illinois State Regulators Warn Of Impending Energy Shortfalls As PJM Capacity Prices Rise Again

-- KSDK: A.I. Data Centers Are Sucking Illinois’ Power Grid Dry, Official Report Warns [PJM Service Area

Public Participation

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Pennsylvanians Have Until Dec. 22 To Comment On Proposed PUC A.I. Data Center Model Tariff For Utilities

Public Actions

-- Altoona Mirror: Groups Urge Shapiro To Dial Back Support For A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- Morning Call/Inquirer: Poll: How Pennsylvanians Feel About A.I. Data Centers: 70% Concerned About Water Use; 71% Concerned About Electricity Use 

-- Post-Gazette: Survey Says Pennsylvanians See The A.I. Revolution As A ‘Significant Threat To Humanity’ 

-- Environmental Groups, Our Children’s Trust Appeal Air Quality Permit For Homer City A.I. Data Center 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant In Indiana County  [PaEN]

-- Indiana Gazette: Environmental Advocates, PA Youths Appeal Permit For 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant For 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus

-- Our Children’s Trust Files Appeal Of DEP Air Quality Permit For Homer City A.I. Data Center Power Plant

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Maryland Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto Of Bills To Study Costs Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions In MD; Economic, Energy, Environmental Impacts Of A.I. Data Centers, Setting Up State Energy Office 

Land Use

-- TribLive: Springdale Council Approves A.I. Data Center 5 - 2 Despite Resident Resistance, But Feared Doomed Legal Battle With Developers If Rejected In Allegheny County  

-- TribLive: Springdale Council Members Say They Legally Had Little Choice In A.I. Data Center Approval; Options Were Approval Or Doomed Legal Battle, They Say 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Springdale Hyperscale A.I. Data Center Gets Green Light In Allegheny County

-- Post-Gazette: Over Residents’ Concerns, Springdale Council Votes Yes On A.I. Data Center In Allegheny County

-- TribLive: Residents Near Proposed Springdale A.I. Data Center Left Frustrated By Council’s Approval  

-- TribLive: Springdale A.I. Data Center Gets Initial OK, But Several More Public Hearings To Come 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: As Springdale Council Prepares To Vote Dec. 16, Residents Worry How A.I. Data Center Could Impact Life In Town [Allegheny County]

-- Observer-Reporter: Potential A.I. Data Center On CNX Resources Land In South Strabane Twp. Dominates Conversation In Washington County [PDF of Article] 

-- Observer-Reporter: Greene County Planners OK Phase I Of 309 Acre Project Hummingbird A.I. Data Center, 910 MW Natural Gas Power Plant; 18 Million Gallon/Day Water Treatment [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: Welcome To ‘Data Center Valley’ - 84 A.I. Data Center Structures Proposed In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]

-- The Citizens Voice: Luzerne County Council Moving Cautiously With PPL Data Center Power Line Easement Request

-- Republican Herald: PPL Plans New 37-Mile High Voltage Line Between Sunbury And Frackville To Service A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article]

-- Morning Call: How Much Electricity [Not Known], Water [2.85 MillionGallons/Month] Will Air Products Site A.I. Data Center Need; Lehigh Valley Planners To Review These, Other Questions 

-- Morning Call: First Review Of Air Products A.I. Data Center Site Plan Has Lots Of Details Missing: ‘A Spaghetti-On-The Wall Proposal’  [PDF of Article]

-- Morning Call: A.I. Data Center Company Bought An Industrial Park In Upper Macungie Twp., Lehigh County For $175 Million, Plans 100 MW Power Expansion  [PDF of Article]

-- Pottstown Mercury: East Vincent Twp. Halts Consideration Of A.I. Data Center Zoning In Face Of Potential Legal Challenge In Chester County 

-- Inquirer: Plans To Develop A.I. Data Center At PennHurst State Hospital Site Move Forward As East Vincent Twp. Officials Scrap Ordinance Regulating Data Centers

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Fire Dept. Making Plans For A.I. Data Center Battery Fires, Based On Experiences In Virginia [PDF of Article]

-- Washington Post: Supersized A.I. Data Centers Are Coming, See How They Will Transform America [3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus Used As Example]  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: US Energy Secretary Touts $1 Billion Taxpayer Loan To Restart Undamaged Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers 

-- WITF: US Energy Secretary Says Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Is ‘Poster Child’ Of President’s Energy, A.I. Agenda [Dedicated To Feeding Energy To Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- PA Capital-Star: US Energy Secretary Says Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Restart Delivers On President’s Promises [Will Provide Power To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: US Energy Secretary Visits Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, Now Helped By Federal Taxpayer Money  [Will Provide Power To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers]

Regulating A.I.

-- Post-Gazette: President’s Order To Block State Regulation Of A.I. An ‘Abuse Of Power,’ State Democratic Sen. Costa Says

-- Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Pennycuick, Rep. Ciresi Say State Efforts Will Continue To Regulate A.I. Despite President’s Executive Order

-- WITF: Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday Says He’ll Defend State A.I. Laws From President’s Administration

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s Republican Attorney General, Lawmakers Contend With President’s Order Blocking A.I. Regulations

-- The Center Square: Bill Regulating A.I. Use In Medicine Subject Of PA House Hearing

[Posted: December 21, 2025]  PA Environment Digest