Click Here for the complete agenda.
EJ & Data Centers
Dr. Ben Green, Assistant Professor of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, is scheduled to give a presentation on Environmental Justice concerns and data centers.
In July, Dr. Green released a new report on What Happens When Data Centers Come To Town? that outlines the environmental and economic impacts caused by data centers along with their impacts on local resources, infrastructure and the electric grid.
Click Here to read more about the report.
PennFuture has developed several resources, including a model zoning ordinance, to help communities regulate A.I. data center development and evaluate their impacts.
The model ordinance has been recommended by the PA Council of Trout Unlimited in their October 10 policy calling for responsible development of A.I. data centers. Read more here.
Visit the PennFuture Data Center webpage for more information.
DEP EJ Initiatives Update
Fernando Trevino, DEP Special Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice, is on the agenda to provide an update on DEP’s Environmental Justice initiatives.
On September 16, 2023, DEP adopted an Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy to outline procedures for enhanced public participation and outreach for permits located in EJ areas and establishing an opt-in process for requesting enhanced public participation for other permits in other areas. Read more here.
DEP also released the PennEnviroScreen online tool to better define environmental justice areas using 32 environmental, health and socioeconomic indicators.
At the same time, DEP held hearings and accepted public comments on the Interim Final EJ Policy. Read more here.
Among other comments received by DEP was a December 2023 letter from Senate Republican leadership expressing their opposition to the Interim Final Policy and urging Gov. Shapiro to withdraw the policy. Read more here.
The Senators questioned whether DEP had the statutory authority to adopt the policy and observed, “...history has shown more often than not, it is out-of-state interest groups who appear to express their viewpoint on environmental justice issues rather than actual residents of the community.” Read more here.
In DEP’s March 2025 state budget testimony, Secretary Jessica Shirley said, “While the Department has shortened permit reviews across the agency, we have remained committed to environmental justice.
“Since the implementation of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy, DEP received 294 permits in EJ areas, and 29 projects received public participation by the Office of Environmental Justice.
“No projects were delayed because of the implementation of the EJ Policy and its enhanced public participation.” Read more here.
Also in March, DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice issued a report highlighting accomplishments during 2024. Read more here.
During her June 2025 Senate hearing to be confirmed as Secretary of DEP, Jessica Shirley said since the Interim Final Policy was adopted in 2023, DEP has been evaluating its effectiveness. Read more here.
She emphasized, “I wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to prolong any type of permitting, and that's why it hasn't been finalized yet.
“What we have found over these 20 months is that no permitting timelines have been increased in any way because of implementation of the policy.”
“It's not about delay. It's not an additional review.
“It is an obligation of the department and my staff to make sure that they are reaching out to the community members and that they feel protected, environmentally protected with our permits from the development that is going to occur.”
“So, we are working to finalize it. There are a few tweaks that we're going to make to it, but nothing that would substantively change it.” Read more here.
DEP has not yet finalized the policy based on the public comments it received.
Cumulative Impacts On Communities
Charles Lee, Scholar in Residence at Howard University School of Law and former US EPA Director and Senior Policy Advisor on Environmental Justice, is scheduled to give a presentation on environmental justice and cumulative impacts.
Lee provided an overview of the cumulative impact issue and environmental justice in an October 17, 2025 interview with the Harvard Law School and Sean Moriarty, former Deputy Commissioner with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, called CleanLaw - Cumulative Impacts and the ‘Holy Grail’ of EJ Policy.
Lee described cumulative impacts this way in the interview-- “Cumulative impacts speak to the interaction between multiple environmental health and social stressors and their effects on human health, welfare, and quality of life. Cumulative impacts is really about the concentration of environmental and social burdens in certain areas.”
State legislation is also being considered in the PA General Assembly-- House Bill 109 (Vitali-D-Delaware)-- that would establish DEP’s Environmental Justice Permit Review Program in law and require an analysis of the cumulative impacts of pollution from certain facilities before a permit could be issued. Read more here.
“Under the Pennsylvania constitution, all Pennsylvanians have the right to a clean environment, regardless of zip code. However, that is not always the case in practice, especially in burdened communities,” said Rep. Vitali.
“This legislation would give the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection the authority to designate environmental justice areas in communities with increased pollution burdens and vulnerable populations.
“Before issuing a permit in an environmental justice area, the applicant would be required to submit a cumulative environmental impact report.
“This legislation also requires the department to conduct a more robust public hearing process for these permits.
“DEP may require additional conditions or mitigation requirements or deny a permit based on cumulative impacts,” added Rep. Vitali.
The legislation covers permits for industrial wastewater facilities, certain air permits, waste permits for facilities processing more than 25 tons a month, mining permits, land application of biosolids, animal feeding operations, electric generating facilities, sewage treatment plants, and underground oil and gas wastewater injection wells.
Additional facilities can be added by regulations adopted by the Environmental Quality Board. Read more here.
House Bill 109 was reported out of the House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee in April 2025, after being amended, but has not seen action by the full House. Read more here.
Similar legislation was introduced in 2023 by former Rep. Donna Bullock (D-Philadelphia) and at a June 2023 House Environmental Committee hearing on the bill Republicans and the shale gas industry came out in opposition to the bill. Read more here.
At the same hearing, Fernando Trevino, DEP Special Deputy for Environmental Justice, said, “DEP fully supports the requirements imposed by House Bill 652 on certain permits, as well as the new additional powers and duties imposed on DEP.” Read more here.
The bill was amended and reported out of Committee in June 2023 by a party line vote-- Republicans opposing-- but never saw action by the full House. Read more here.
Presenting Public Comments
Individuals interested in providing public comment during the meeting must sign up 24-hours in advance of the meeting by contacting Ian Irvin, Executive Director, by sending email to: iirvin@pa.gov.
Click Here for other helpful guidance on presenting comments.
Join The Meeting
The joint meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 12:30 p.m.
Click Here to join the meeting online via Microsoft Teams.
Click Here for instructions on joining the meeting by telephone.
For available handouts and more information on the joint meeting, visit DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council webpage. Questions should be directed to Ian Irvin, Executive Director, iirvin@pa.gov or (717) 787-8171.
Visit DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board webpage for more information on Board initiatives and activities. Questions should be directed to Mariana Fletcher, Office of Environmental Justice, by email to: marifletch@pa.gov or by calling 717-497-0714.
Environmental Justice Board Regular Meeting
On November 12, the Environmental Justice Advisory Board is also scheduled to hold its own regular meeting BEFORE the joint meeting.
Click Here for the regular meeting agenda.
The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. and will be a virtual meeting only.
Click Here to join the Board’s meeting via Microsoft Teams.
Resource Links - A.I. Data Centers:
-- PUC Approves Proposed Model Tariff For Public Review To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection [PaEN]
-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part I: PA Utility Law Project - Utility Terminations Up 30% Already; Prioritize Existing Loads; Centers Need To Help Pay For Utility Assistance [PaEN]
-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part II: PA Consumer Advocate - PUC Should Set Conditions For Centers To Be Served By The Grid; Set Power Curtailment Priorities [PaEN]
-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part III: PJM Market Monitor - Data Centers Have Cost Existing Ratepayers $16.6 Billion Already; Centers Should Bring Their Own Power Generation To Prevent More Large Price Spikes [PaEN]
-- 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]
-- 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]
-- Gov. Shapiro Provides Update On The Fight To Lower Energy Prices, Calls On General Assembly To Move His Commonsense Lightning Energy Plan [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PUC Approves Proposed Model Tariff For Public Review To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection [PaEN]
-- Nov. 12 Joint Meeting Of DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board To Hear EJ Concerns With A.I. Data Centers, Update On DEP’s EJ Initiatives, Cumulative Impacts Of Facilities [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Don’t Trade Away Pennsylvania's Climate Regulations As Part Of State Budget Deal [Fossil Fuel Power Plants Power Wave Of Data Center Proposals] - By Rep. Greg Vitali, Majority Chair, House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee [PaEN]
-- PJM Winter Power Outlook: Adequate Power Supplies Available To Serve Growing Demand Under Expected Conditions; 1 GigaWatt Of Mostly Solar Power Capacity Added Since Last Winter [PaEN]
-- PEC Podcast: Advanced Electric Transmission Technology - More Capacity, More Power Out Of Our Existing Grid At A Fraction Of The Cost [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 15 Natural Gas Generators To Power 15 Iron City A.I. Computing Centers In Karthaus Twp., Clearfield County [PaEN]
-- PUC: Utilities Will Not Terminate LIHEAP-Eligible Heating Customers During Federal Shutdown; Customers Need To Call Utilities Now To Stay Connected This Winter [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 10 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- AP: Voters’ Anger Over High Electricity Bills And A.I. Data Centers Loom Over 2026 MidTerm Elections [PA Highlighted]
-- The Center Square: Estimated Power Demand Spiked By A.I. Data Centers Will Outstrip Supply By 2032 In PJM Service Area; Solutions Require Coordinated Actions
-- Reuters: PPL Corp Signs Agreements With A.I. Data Centers To Connect 20.5 Gigawatts Of Power In PA, A 40% Jump Over 3 Months [Enough Electricity To Power Nearly All The Homes In PA 3 Times Over]
-- Utility Dive: Exelon’s A.I. Data Center Load Forecast Grows To 18 GW; Market Monitor Continues Call For Review Of PECO - Amazon Data Center Agreement Impact On Ratepayers
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Pittsburgh Energy Storage Maker EOS Defies Skeptics, Sees Large Market For A.I. Data Center Projects
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Clean Energy Advocates Urge Pennsylvanians To Make Energy Upgrades Before Federal Tax Credits Expire
-- WGAL: A.I. Data Center Growth: PA Lawmakers, Researchers Weigh Benefits, Risks
-- TribLive: Surge In A.I. Data Centers Sparks Concern Over Water Demands
-- Water At Risk: A.I. Data Centers Bait And Switch? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PaEN]
-- Scranton Times: Jessup Boro Re-Amends Data Center Zoning; Sets Nov. 18 Hearing On Developer Proposal For 6 New A.I. Data Centers Along Breaker Street [PDF of Article]
-- Observer-Reporter: Greene County Planning Commission Gives Preliminary Approval To 1,400 Acre A.I. Data Center Project, Related 900 WM Power Plant, 18 Million GPD Water Treatment Plant In Monongahela Twp [PDF of Article]
-- The Center Square: Save Carbon County Loses Commonwealth Court Appeal Of Stronghold Bitcoin Data Center Permit For Panther Creek Coal Waste-Fired Power Plant
-- TribLive: Incumbents Hold Onto Springdale Council Seats As A.I. Data Center Debate Continues In Allegheny County
-- Wall Street Journal: What Happened When Small-Town America Became A.I. Data Center, USA [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: With Federal LIHEAP Funding Not Available, PA Heating Utilities Pledge Not To Disconnect Low-Income Customers This Month
-- LancasterOnline/WITF: PA Heating Utilities Step In As Government Shutdown Halts LIHEAP Heating Help Program
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Federal LIHEAP Heating Assistance Delayed In PA Due To Federal Shutdown, Here Are Other Resources To Help Pay Energy Bills
[Posted: November 9, 2025] PA Environment Digest
