Energy Costs
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Energy Bills Driven By A.I. Data Centers Threaten PA Small Businesses, Report Says
-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2nd Quarter PA Natural Gas Production Declines Slightly Again; Price Of Natural Gas For Residential Customers Increased By 7.3% From Prior Year [PaEN]
-- FirstEnergy Utilities Foundation Awards $1.2 Million In Grants To 37 PA Food Banks To Provide 3.6 Million Meals
Governor’s Executive Order
-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: Gov. Shapiro’s Executive Order On Data Centers Hasn’t Slowed Momentum Of Developers Looking To Build Big In PA Communities
-- New York Times: Pennsylvania A.I. Gold Rush Meets 2nd Thoughts; Amid Backlash Gov. Shapiro Is Pumping The Brakes On Enormous Data Centers; But Some Welcome Billions In Construction
-- The Conversation: Data Center Projects In Pennsylvania Face Stronger Local Scrutiny After Gov. Shapiro’s Executive Order - By Michael Helbing, Adjunct Professor of Law, Penn State University
-- CNBC: PA Gov. Shapiro Says Too Many A.I. Data Center Developers ‘Don’t Care About Our Communities’
-- PA Environmental Council In Case You Missed It In August: Executive Action On A.I. Data Centers; Interview With Franklin Kury; Ride With PEC; Mini Grant Opportunity; Outdoors For All [PaEN]
Legislation
-- PennLive: Some PA Lawmakers Regret $1.8 Billion State Tax Break For A.I. Data Centers - So Why Won’t They Kill It?
-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Needs A Mandatory A.I. Data Center Moratorium - By Deena Stoudt, Food & Water Watch; Gillian Wenhold, Lehigh Valley Stands Up; and Michael Friend, Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America
-- PA Capital-Star: Bipartisan Legislative Proposals Would Limit Use Of Flock License Reading Cameras In PA
Grid
-- PA Public Utility Commission Forecasts Data Center-Driven Industrial Electricity Use In Pennsylvania Will Increase 18.56% A Year Thru 2030; Up From 0.22% Annually In 2024 [PaEN]
-- Scranton Times: PUC Data Centers To Cause Nearly 19%-A-Year Jump In Electric Demand Over 5 Years
-- Morning Call: PPL Electric Investing In Grid Technology To Help Keep The Lights On As Demand Rises; Here’s A Look Inside
-- PJM Interconnection Extends Hot Weather Alert To Sept. 4; Order Still In Place To Require Data Centers, Large Loads To Go To Backup Generation, If Needed [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Extends Maximum Generation Alert, Load Management Alert To Sept. 3; Order In Place To Require Data Centers, Large Loads To Go To Backup Generation If Needed [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Extends Maximum Generation Alert, Load Management Alert To Sept. 2; Requested, Received DOE Approval To Require Data Centers, Large Loads To Go To Backup Generation If Needed [PaEN]
-- The Guardian: Blackout Risk Rises As Heatwave Stresses PJM Electric Grid; DOE Approves Emergency Order
-- PJM Interconnection Issues Maximum General Alert, Load Management Alert For Sept. 1 [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Electric Grid Operator Issues Hot Weather Alert For Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 For Its Entire Region - 8th This Summer [PaEN]
-- Inside Climate News: Maryland Consumer Advocate Challenges PJM Backstop Power Auction Plan Says It Will Expose Customers To $562 Million In Long-Term Costs
-- Reuters: Texas’ Halt On Powering A.I. Data Centers Reflects US Reckoning Over ‘Ghost’ Power Demands And Impacts On Electricity Markets [PJM Included]
Generation
-- PennLive Letter: Research Shows Pennsylvania Needs To Diversify Its Electricity Generation Mix - David Gahl, Solar & Energy Storage Industries Institute
-- PennLive/Tribune News: Massive 7,200 Acre PPL Utilities Joint Venture Land Deal In Lackawanna County Paves Way For More Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants
-- Scranton Times: PPL Utilities Joint Venture Purchases 500 Acres In Luzerne County For 2 Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants; No Agreements Signed With Customers Yet [Not For The Public]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: NextEra Energy Picks 700 Acre Site In Luzerne Twp., Fayette County For 3.75 GW Natural Gas Data Center Power Plant Complex [Entire Township Over Known Mined Out Coal Mines Subject To Subsidence Risk (DEP)]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: NextEra’s $13 Billion Natural Gas Data Center Power Plant Complex In Luzerne Twp., Fayette County To Be A Game Changer For Region
Land Use
-- The Center Square: Nearly Half Of Pennsylvania’s ‘Fast Track’ A.I. Data Center Municipalities Signed Nondisclosure Agreements
-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna County To Seek Proposals For A.I. Data Center Emergency Response Assessment
-- Scranton Times: Mid Valley School District To Measure Sound Before A.I. Data Centers Arrive In Lackawanna County
-- Scranton Times: Valley View School District To Designate Member For A.I. Data Center , Power Plant Opposition At Meeting Today [Sept. 2], Litigation Pending Against Proposals
-- Scranton Times: Ransom Twp. Looks To Adopt Protections To Get Ahead Of Future A.I. Data Centers In Lackawanna County
-- The Center Square: Salem Twp. Planning Commission Vote To Approve A.I. Data Center Zoning Expansion Violates County Court Order In Luzerne County
-- The Center Square: After Sunshine Act Violation, Salem Twp., Luzerne County Plans Third Try At Vote On A.I. Data Center Zoning Expansion, After Approving It Twice Before
-- The Citizens’ Voice: Bear Creek Twp. Supervisors Won’t Expand Zoning By 700% For Data Center; 2 Smaller Proposals Remain On Table, Luzerne County
-- The Citizens’ Voice: One Data Center Zoning Change Rejected, Bear Creek Twp. Officials Now Considering 2 Others In Luzerne County
-- The Citizens’ Voice: A.I. Data Center Developer Appeals Dorrance Twp. Rejection In Luzerne County
-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Dallas Twp. Creates A.I. Data Center Advisory Committee To Recommend Changes To Regulations In Luzerne County
-- Morning Call: Allentown Postpones Zoning Meeting On Emmaus Avenue A.I. Data Center Proposal By Developer, Nonprofit Group Challenging Zoning
-- Morning Call: Empty Warehouse In Allen Twp. Could Soon Become A.I. Data Center In Northampton County
-- Morning Call: A.I. Data Center Developers Tout Economic Benefits, How Much Could They Affect Lehigh Valley Economy?
-- The Center Square: Upper Mount Bethel Twp., Northampton County Is Uncertain Of Its Authority Over Data Center Plans
-- Republican Herald: For Now, New Castle Twp. Zoning Ordinance Has Kept A.I. Data Center Development At Bay In Schuylkill County
-- Republican Herald: Butler Township Approves Zoning Changes To Allow Expansion Of ‘Immense’ A.I. Data Center Proposal Over Objections Of Residents In Schuylkill County
-- Pottstown Mercury: Limerick Twp., Montgomery County Supervisor Abruptly Resigns Amid Consideration Of A.I. Data Center Proposal
-- PennLive Guest Essay: When Farmland Disappears, So Does A Way Of Life [Data Centers] - By Sam Burleigh, Anthony Twp., Montour County
-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Middlesex Twp. Supervisors Voted 2-0 To Give Key Approvals To First Of 3 A.I. Data Center Campuses In Cumberland County; Opponents Turn To Court
-- WITF: Middlesex Twp. Approves First Phase Of Controversial A.I. Data Center Project In Cumberland County
-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: A.I. Data Center Developer Promises Millions In Bid For Community Support In Middlesex Twp., Cumberland County
-- Inside Climate News: Will An A.I. Data Center Join Former Philadelphia Refinery Bellwether District’s Mix Of Manufacturers And Warehouses?
-- Indiana Gazette: Center, Burell, Black Lick Townships Seek Community Benefits Agreement With The Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus Power Plants
-- Post-Gazette: Homer City A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Indiana County Fueled By 1,800 contractors And Tradespeople
-- Observer-Reporter: Starpointe A.I. Data Center Developer Expected To Detail Project During Hearing Monday [Aug. 31] In Hanover Twp. Washington County
-- Observer-Report: A.I. Data Center Developer Details Expansive Starpointe Data Center, Natural Gas Power Plant Proposal In Hanover Twp., Washington County
-- TribLive: A.I. Data Center Concerns Grow In Upper Burrell Twp As Moratorium End Looms In Westmoreland County
-- TribLive: Ligonier Twp. Adopts Data Center Rules With Revisions Planned In Westmoreland County
-- Pittsburgh Media Partnership: Pennsylvania A.I. Data Center Proposals Map
Public Participation/Meetings
-- Scranton Times: Sunday [Sept. 6] Forum Against Old Forge Borehole Mine Discharge Hydroelectric Project On Land Also Eyed For A.I. Data Center Projects In Lackawanna County
-- Local Organizations To Host Sept. 10 Town Hall Meeting On A.I. Data Centers In Fayette County, And Online [PaEN]
-- PA Data Center Hearings & Meetings - Physicians For Social Responsibility PA
-- AP: EPA Proposal Could Leave The Public In The Dark On A.I. Data Center, Power Plant Plants
Politics
-- Morning Call: Here’s Where Lehigh Valley Legislators Stand On A.I. Data Center Regulation As Lawmakers Prepare To Return To Session
-- LancasterOnline: How Will Data Centers Issues Impact Lancaster County’s State Senate Race?
-- TribLive Guest Essay: PA MAGA Country Doesn’t Want President’s A.I. Data Center ‘Golden Goose’ - By Oliver Bateman, Pittsburgh Historian
-- Inquirer: PA US Sen. Fetterman Backs President On A.I. Data Centers, Blames China For ‘Misinformation” On A.I.
-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: President Pumps Up A.I. Data Center Resistance
-- Bloomberg: President Says ‘Let Data [Centers] Reign’ In Response To A.I. Data Center Blowback [Communities Not Wanting Data Centers ‘Want To End Up Being Backwards And Poor’]
-- Financial Times - Bethlehem, PA Project: Pennsylvania Voters Unite Against A.I. Data Centers: ‘People Are Going To Get Screwed’ [PDF of Article]
-- The Economist: How A.I. Data Centers Became One Of America’s Hottest Political Issues [PA Included]
-- Washington Post: How The A.I. Data Center Backlash Is Growing In US Statehouses [PA Included]
[Posted: September 6, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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