In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - September 28

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 - September 28  [PaEN]

Energy Costs

-- Public Utility Commission To Hold Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive/Spotlight PA: Who Should Pay For Low-Income Electric, Natural Gas Bill Assistance? In PA It All Falls On Residential Customers [Should Data Centers That Are Increasing Bills Pay?] 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvanians Need Stronger Protections From Variable Electric, Natural Gas Rates Charged By Suppliers - By Andy Tubbs, Energy Association of PA [Public Utilities] 

-- Post-Gazette: Home Heating Oil Prices In Western PA Have Ballooned, Diesel Prices Are Highest In 48 Years

-- TribLive: $6 Per Gallon: Heating Oil Prices Spike As Global Supply Chokes 

-- Utility Dive: North Carolina Utility Regulator Denies Duke Energy Natural Gas Power Plant Over ‘Staggering’ Cost, Uncertain Need

Legislation/Accountability

-- PA Farm Bureau Supports Pause On A.I. Data Center Development, Issues Policy Paper On Why A Pause Is Needed  [PaEN] 

-- NBC10: PA Senate Republican Leader, House Democratic Speaker Reject A.I. Data Center Moratorium Legislation 

-- The Center Square: A.I. Data Center Court Fights Fester As PA Lawmakers Return To Session 

-- Altoona Mirror - Robert Swift: PA House Energy Committee Chair Rep. Fiedler Drafting Legislation To Give Gov. Shapiro’s Data Center Executive Order Some Teeth

-- The Center Square: PA Sen. McCormick Floats Dedicated Department To Handle A.I.

-- The Allegheny Front: PA Leaders Weigh In On A.I. And Data Centers At Pittsburgh Conference Last Week

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Virginia Governor Creates Data Center Accountability Policy

-- PA Capital-Star: New Data Centers In Maryland To Get Additional Scrutiny Under Governor’s Order

Grid

-- PUC: Fewer, But Bigger Power Outages Impacted Nearly 2.9 Million Electric Customers In 2025, The Same As In 2024; But More Than Double The Number Of Customers Were Impacted By Major Outage Events  [PaEN]

-- Feature: PJM Independent Market Monitor Recommends FERC Reject PJM's Interim Resource Adequacy Proposal Because It Just Punts Issues Of Who Gets Curtailed And Who Pays To The States - By Rob Altenburg, Attorney, Energy Analyst

-- AP: US DOE Will Spend $2 Billion To Squeeze An Additional 23 GW Of Electricity From Aging Power Grid 

-- PA Capital-Star: US DOE Unveils Project To Squeeze More Juice Through Existing Power Lines; PPL To Receive $71.5 Million Grant

-- PPL Electric: $71.4 Million: Montour-Glen Brook-Susquehanna Corridor Transmission Line Project

-- PPL Electric Awarded $71.5 Million US DOE Grant For Montour Transmission Line Resilience And Advanced Reconductoring Project

-- Morning Call: US DOE To Give PPL Up To $71.5 Million To Boost Grid, Avoid A.I. Data Center-Related Blackouts 

-- Duquesne Light Company: $22.2 Million: Dynamic Grid Controls, Strategic Upgrades

-- Fox News Guest Essay: The Large-Scale Electric Transformers That Keep America Alive Are Failing, And We Forgot How To Replace Them

Generation

-- ABC27: PUC Chair Addresses Data Center Concerns, Says Companies Should Do What Microsoft Is Doing With The Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Allegheny Conference’s First Nuclear Energy Summit Oct. 14 Will Take The Temperature Of Nuclear Industry

-- Utility Dive: North Carolina Utility Regulator Denies Duke Energy Natural Gas Power Plant Over ‘Staggering’ Cost, Uncertain Need

Land Use

-- Scranton Times: Valley View School District Lawsuit Could Halt Project Gravity A.I. Data Centers In Archbald Boro 

-- Scranton Times: Archbald Boro Drafts New, Stricter Standards For A.I. Data Centers In Lackawanna County

-- WVIA: Project Gravity Data Center Developer Plans To Submit Final Land Plans To Archbald Boro In Lackawanna County

-- Scranton Times: Maryland Developer Applies For 200,000 Square Foot A.I. Data Center In Jessup Boro, Lackawanna County

-- Scranton Times: Benton Twp. Approves Data Center Ordinance; Residents Say It Doesn’t Go Far Enough In Lackawanna County

-- The Citizens’ Voice: One Of 2 A.I. Data Center Developers Backs Out Of Sugarloaf Twp. Proposal; Property Owners, Other Developer Continuing To Push For Zoning Changes To Allow Data Centers In Luzerne County 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Salem Twp Planning Board To Vote 3rd Time Thursday [Sept. 24] To Approve Expanding Data Center Zoning In Luzerne County

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Salem Twp. Planning Votes Again To Expand A.I. Data Center Zoning Overlay To Accommodate A $1.4 Billion Data Center Project; Issue Now Moves To Supervisors 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Salem Twp. Planners OK A.I. Data Center Expansion For 3rd Time; 2 Previous Approvals Were Overruled In Court Over Sunshine Law Violations

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Plains Twp. Weighs Data Center Zoning In Luzerne County: ‘This Isn’t Something We’ve Ever Taken Lightly’

-- Scranton Times: Plains Twp. Holds Hearing On A.I. Data Center Zoning Overlay Leading To Rumors Of An Incoming Data Center Development Proposal In Luzerne County

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Says A.I. Data Center Proposals In Allentown/Bethlehem Missing Key Information

-- Morning Call: Republican Sen. Colman, Opponent Join Opposition To South Whitehall Twp. A.I. Data Center Proposal Near High School In Lehigh County

--  Republican Herald: Kline Twp. Supervisors To Vote Next Week On Amazon Data Center Proposal In Schuylkill County

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Link Logistics Testing Waters For A.I. Data Center 100 Feet From Homes In Trainer Boro, Delaware County

-- Inquirer: East Whiteland Twp. Officials Approve A.I. Data Center Ordinance; Won’t Affect Current Project Being Built In Chester County

-- Muncy Township, Lycoming County Residents, Groups File Lawsuit Challenging A.I. Data Center Proposal Saying ‘Deemed Approved’ Provision Of Municipalities Planning Code Is Unconstitutional

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Cumberland County Court Denys Request To Halt Work On A.I. Data Center Project In Middlesex Twp. While Citizens Appeal Being Heard

-- PennLive: Developer Presents 2nd Plan For A.I. Data Center To Swatara Twp. At Former Highlands Golf Course In Dauphin County

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Florida Developer Planning A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Forward Twp., Butler County; Township Hearing Thursday [Sept. 24] 

-- WPXI: Massive A.I. Data Center Proposed In Forward Twp., Butler County

-- WPXI: Forward Twp. Hearing On New A.I. Data Center Proposal Postponed After Too Many Residents Showed Up In Butler County

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Council Unanimously Bans Large A.I. Data Centers On County Property

-- Observer-Reporter: Monongahela Twp. Residents Seek More Chances For Input To ‘Project Hummingbird’ A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex Project In Greene County

-- Observer-Reporter: Developer’s Engineer Testifies About Natural Gas Power Plant Complex At Starpointe Data Center Hearing In Hanover Twp., Washington County 

-- Observer-Reporter: North Strabane Twp. Working To Draft A.I. Data Center Ordinance In Washington County

- Pittsburgh Media Partnership: Pennsylvania A.I. Data Center Proposals Map

Developers

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: A.I. Data Center Developers Should Learn From Shale Gas Industry On How To Handle Public Controversy And Regulations Amid Public Backlash  [PDF of Article] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Data Center Developers Tell Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Conference Transparency, Empathy, Deep Pockets Key To Winning Over Hearts And Minds In The New Climate For Data Centers

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Pennsylvania’s A.I. Data Center Boom Is Repeating Old Patterns Of Exploitation 

-- We’ve Heard This Before: ‘We’re Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs’ - A Brief Review Of Pennsylvania’s Conservation History  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: There Are Genuine Reasons For Secrecy Surrounding Acquisition Of Land And Construction Of Data Centers And Nondisclosure Agreements - By Matt Putnam, National Taxpayers Union Foundation 

-- PennLive: A.I. Data Center CEO Arrested On PA Turnpike After Police Say He Fatally Shot His Wife

Impacts

-- Inside Climate News: Could Abandoned Mine Lands House Pennsylvania’s Unwanted Data Centers?  [Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation Issues Cautions About This Complex Mined Landscape]

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh: Powering A.I. - Infrastructure, Innovation And Regional Readiness

-- Bloomberg: A.I. Data Centers Release Heat, Posing New Problem For Cities

Permits

-- Indiana County Conservation District Issues 2 PAG-02 Stormwater General Permits For Homer City A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Chapter 105 Permits For Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission 150 Mile Piney-Seward And Erie South Piney Transmission Line Project Crossing 8 Counties  [PaEN] 

Public Participation/Meetings

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For Construction Of 2 Data Center Buildings, Electric Substation In Sharon City, Mercer County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For Installation Of 156 Diesel Generators At The Greenfield Road Owner, LLC Phase 2 Data Center Project In City Of Lancaster  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Individual Stormwater Permit For PECO Energy Electric Substation, 230 kV Transmission Line Project Crossing Schuylkill River In Montgomery County  [PaEN] 

-- Pennsylvanians Are Finding Their Voices Again On Environmental, Energy Issues They Care About  [PaEN] 

-- PA Data Center Hearings & Meetings - Physicians For Social Responsibility PA

A.I. Policy

-- TribLive Editorial/Baltimore Sun: A.I.’s Logic Is No Substitute For Human Emotion

[Posted: September 26, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Saturday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 9.26.26

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

-- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution  [It’s Not A Suggestion]

House Voting Schedule

September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 9, 10

-- Committee Schedule

Senate Voting Schedule

​​September 28, 29, 30

October 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21

November 17, 18

-- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

September 28-- NEW.  House Local Government Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1287 (Keefer-R-York) requiring proof of adequate water supply before final land development approval. Room 515 Irvis Building. 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

September 29-- NEW. House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee meets to consider House Bill 2584 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) requiring a user-friendly public record of utility rate increases; House Bill 2674 (Pielli-D-Chester) prohibiting data centers from obtaining public utility status. Room 523 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

September 29-- NEW. Virtual. DEP Office Of Environmental Justice: Webinar On Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program, Act 2 Land Recycling Program. 4:00 p.m.

September 29-- Virtual. Penn State Extension Backyard Stream Repair Webinars (3 of 5) - Choosing Your Plants For Your Stream.  10:00 to 11:30 p.m.

September 29 to Oct. 2-- In-Person. Swarthmore Fungi Fest.

September 30-- Agenda Added. House Energy Committee meets to consider House Bill 2755 (Pielli-D-Chester) requiring investor-owned utilities to join PJM to eliminate a “windfall” payment utilities receive at ratepayer expense;  House Bill 2775 (Donahue-D-Lackawanna) to reduce development of speculative data center proposals, the legislation requires data center applicants seeking local zoning or land-use approval to demonstrate that they have submitted an interconnection application with the applicable electric utility provider and paid all mandatory fees and costs associated with the application; House Bill 2791 (Takac-D-Centre) provide an option for utilities and developers to co-locate electric transmission lines along certain PennDOT rights-of-ways; House Bill 2828 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) codifies the PUC’s large load tariff, charge large load customers for reliability backstop auction costs and curtail large load users during emergencies;  House Resolution 564 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) directs the Joint State Government commission to investigate how heat from data centers can be captured and repurposed to improve energy efficiency, lower operating costs and reduces waste head emissions; House Resolution 630 (Sappey-D-Chester) directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of decommissioning requirements for data centers.  Room 205 Ryan Building.  9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

September 30-- Agenda Posted. DEP Sewage Advisory Committee meeting. Room 105 Rachel Carson. 9:00 a.m.

September 30-- In-Person. Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community meeting on Sherwin Williams Facility.  Rochester Riverfront Park, Rochester. 6:00 p.m.

October 5-- NEW. House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee holds a hearing on road spreading oil and gas wastewater and DEP’s new “mineral brine” conventional well permit. Room 205 Ryan Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.   Read background here.

October 6-- NEW. House Energy Committee will hold an informational meeting on electric reliability and the PUC’s Assessing Electricity Resource Adequacy in Pennsylvania and PJM report. Room 205 Ryan Building. 9:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online. 

October 14-- In-Person. DEP Public Meeting/Hearing On Major Amendment To Water Quality Permit For Homer City Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Indiana County.  Homer Center High School Auditorium, 70 Wildcat Lane, Homer City. 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. 

-- DEP Issues Air Quality Plan Approval For As-Built Air Pollution Controls, Wastewater Treatment Plant At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN] 

-- Permits Flying Out Of DEP:   PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 26 [PaEN]  

-- DEP Invites Comments On New PA General Energy Application For 3.9 Mile Long Access Road, Staging Area To Support Shale Gas Development In Loyalsock State Forest In Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- US EPA Invites Comments On Reissuance Of Expired EXCO Resources (PA) Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Permit In Bell Twp., Clearfield County; Virtual Hearing Set For Oct. 27 [If Requested]  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 35 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In August; 258 In 2026  [PaEN] 

-- Must Read!  DEP Posted 73 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 26 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

-- Indiana County Conservation District Issues 2 PAG-02 Stormwater General Permits For Homer City A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Chapter 105 Permits For Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission 150 Mile Piney-Seward And Erie South Piney Transmission Line Project Crossing 8 Counties  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Stormwater Permit For Construction Of 2 Data Center Buildings, Electric Substation In Sharon City, Mercer County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For Installation Of 156 Diesel Generators At The Greenfield Road Owner, LLC Phase 2 Data Center Project In City Of Lancaster  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Individual Stormwater Permit For PECO Energy Electric Substation, 230 kV Transmission Line Project Crossing Schuylkill River In Montgomery County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Sets Nov. 4 Hearing [If Requested] On Reissuance Of Title V Air Quality Permit For The NLMK Pennsylvania, LLC Farrel Steel Plant In Mercer County  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Philadelphia-Area Schools Are Tapping The Sun’s Energy And Saving Money On Energy Costs

-- Grounded Locally, Connected Globally -  Sustainable Pittsburgh Summit Set For Nov. 18  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: 2nd Federal Judge Overturns $7 Billion Solar For All Cancellation [Pennsylvania Awarded $156 Million Thru The Program ]  

-- Help Wanted: PA Technical Assistance Program Energy Quality Specialist 

-- The Allegheny Front: Advocates Call Recent Change In PA Law Allowing More Lead In School Drinking Water A ‘Backslide’

-- DCNR: Pine Creek Rail Trail Honored As Pennsylvania’s 2026 Trail Of The Year During Special Event In Tioga County  [PaEN] 

-- Observer-Reporter: Laurel Highlands Named USAToday Named A Top Destination For Fall Foliage

-- DCNR Names Eric Probert District Forester, Loyalsock State Forest In Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan Counties

-- PA Wilds Cooperative: Explore Regional Products, Services, Branded Goods And Local Shops In 2026 PA Wilds Buyer's Guide  [PaEN] 

-- Game Commission: Highlights Of Sept. 25 Board Of Commissioners Meeting

-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: Game Commission Discusses New No Deer Feeding Areas, CWD Disposal Regulations, New Land Deals

-- Post-Gazette: Snakes In PA Really Just Want To Be Left Alone, Including These Venomous Species

 A.I. /Data Centers

-- The Center Square: A.I. Data Center Court Fights Fester As PA Lawmakers Return To Session 

-- Scranton Times: Maryland Developer Applies For 200,000 Square Foot A.I. Data Center In Jessup Boro, Lackawanna County

-- PennLive: Developer Presents 2nd Plan For A.I. Data Center To Swatara Twp. At Former Highlands Golf Course In Dauphin County

-- Inquirer: East Whiteland Twp. Officials Approve A.I. Data Center Ordinance; Won’t Affect Current Project Being Built In Chester County

-- Muncy Township, Lycoming County Residents, Groups File Lawsuit Challenging A.I. Data Center Proposal Saying ‘Deemed Approved’ Provision Of Municipalities Planning Code Is Unconstitutional

-- Observer-Reporter: North Strabane Twp. Working To Draft A.I. Data Center Ordinance In Washington County

-- PA Capital-Star: US DOE Unveils Project To Squeeze More Juice Through Existing Power Lines; PPL To Receive $71.5 Million Grant

-- The Allegheny Front: PA Leaders Weigh In On A.I. And Data Centers At Pittsburgh Conference Last Week

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh: Powering A.I. - Infrastructure, Innovation And Regional Readiness

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Maryland Governor Opts For A.I. Data Center Standards Over Moratorium

International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

[Energy Independence Means Renewables]

-- September 26: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday $4.54/Gallon - $1.43/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Warren County $4.77  Highest Average Price]  

-- September 26: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.48  Ohio- $4.35  PA- $4.54

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- The Center Square: PA Farmers Face ‘A Lot Of Uncertainty’ As Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Operations

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs-- 15 -- Same As Last 3 Weeks

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- PennLive: John Bair, Chronicler Of Capitol Politics For Half A Century, Dies At 79

-- TribLive: Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Touts Experience In Business, Military, State Government

-- Spotlight PA: As Shapiro Pumps Money Into Downballot Democrats, Republicans Lean On Billionaire Jeff Yass

-- City & State PA: PA Polls Show Democratic Congressional Candidates Leading As Midterm Election Nears

-- The Center Square: A.I. Data Center Court Fights Fester As PA Lawmakers Return To Session 

-- Spotlight PA: US Dept. Of Justice Charges 4 More PA Residents With Noncitizen Voting; Bringing Total Number Charged With Noncitizen Voting To 7 In PA  [8,569,018 are registered to vote in PA]

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[Posted: September 26, 2026]  PA Environment Digest