In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 29

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

Energy Cost

-- PA Energy, Environmental, Citizen Advocates Call On PUC To Protect Ratepayers, Communities From Costs, Impacts Of A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square: Don’t Count On Lower Electricity Prices In 2026; Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand In PJM

-- The Center Square: 2025 - The ‘First’ Year Of A.I. - Higher Electricity Prices; More Shale Gas Fracking; Community Controversy 

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Competition Creates Better Consumer Deals - Even For Electricity - While Noncompetitive Transmission Facility Costs Have Risen Sharply - By John Hanger, Former PUC Commissioner

Grid

-- TribLive - Jack Troy: PJM’s Power Auction Shortfall Could Lead To Increased Blackout Risks In PA, Other States In Face Of A.I. Data Center Power Demands

-- Post-Gazette: Duquesne Light Studying Ways A.I. Could Improve Electric Grid And Reliability

Energy Generation

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Must Be Prepared To Meet Energy Challenges - By Tom Gilbert, PA Environmental Council

-- Reuters Commentary: Renewables With Batteries Produce Cheaper Energy Than Natural Gas; LNG Gas Exports Glut Turning Into A Sinkhole

-- Utility Dive: President Tries To Halt Construction Of Just Over 7 Gigawatts Of Much-Needed Electrical Generation From East Coast Wind Farms 

-- Reuters: A.I. Data Centers Are Forcing Dirty ‘Peaker’ Power Plants Back Into Service

Impacts

-- Guest Essay: Lessons From A.I. Data Centers And Shale Gas Fracking Tours - By Scott Cannon, Luzerne County  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers In PA Won’t Use Too Much Water, But More Investment Needed In Water Infrastructure - By Howard Neukrug, University of Pennsylvania Water Center 

Public Participation

-- DEP To Host Jan. 6 Public Information Meeting On Water Quality Permits For The A.I. Data Center Proposal In Archbald Boro, Lackawanna County [Some Of The 84 Data Center Buildings Proposed In NE PA]  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: DEP Hold Jan. 6 Meeting On ‘Project Gravity' A.I. Data Centers In Archbald, Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Environmental Groups Appeal DEP Permit For Massive Natural Gas Power Plant Meant To Power Homer Center A.I. Data Center Campus

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Homer City A.I. Data Center 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Permit Faces Appeals From Environmental Groups, 13 Children [PDF of Article]

Land Use

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: 693 Acre Cumberland County A.I. Data Center Project Gets First OK From Middlesex Township Planners

-- Post-Gazette - Adriana E. Ramirez: The People Of Springdale Are Right To Hate Data Centers: ‘We’re Giving Up Too Much For Too Little’

-- York Dispatch: East Manchester Twp. To Rezone 300 Acres Of Farmland For A.I. Data Center Use In York County; Jan. 20 Meeting Set  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Rankled By President’s Order To Oppose State Regulation Of A.I.: ‘We’re Not Stopping’

Feds

-- Wall Street Journal: States See A Federal Power Grab In Clash With President Over A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article] 

[Posted: December 28, 2025]  PA Environment Digest