The hearing is in part a response to discussions surrounding a May 19 hearing on House Bill 501 (Otten-D-Chester), part of the Gov. Shapiro's Lightning Energy Plan updating Pennsylvania's renewable energy standards. Read more here.
The Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Association, representing coal waste power plants, submitted testimony to the Committee outlining concerns about the changes proposed to the Tier II Renewable Energy Standards, which now includes waste coal,
ARIPPA said the changes would add new energy sources and reduce the value of Tier II credits by creating an oversupply. Read more here.
Waste coal power production and reclamation is also subsidized by a $55 million a year Coal Refuse Energy and Reclamation Tax Credit. Read more here.
In April of this year, nine coal waste-fired power plants received US Environmental Protection Agency approval to be exempt from federal hazardous air pollutant regulations covering mercury and other pollutants for two years under a special program established by the new federal administration. Read more here.
Several waste coal-fired power plants have also been bought for the purpose of supplying power to cryptocurrency mining operations, including Bitfarms, Ltd - Stronghold Digital Mining’s Panther Creek (Carbon County) and Scrubgrass (Venango County) facilities. Read more here.
On August 5, Bitfarms Ltd announced a partnership with T5 Data Centers to develop an advanced A.I. data center at the Panther Creek Waste Coal-fired Power Plant in Carbon County. Read more here.
The hearing will be held in Room G-50 of the Irvis Building in Harrisburg starting at 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch online.
Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Jack Rader, Jr. (R-Monroe) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7732 or click here to send an email.
Related Articles This Week:
-- Bitfarms Announces Partnership To Develop A.I. Data Center At Panther Creek Waste Coal-Fired Power Plant In Carbon County [PaEN]
-- PA Senate Republican Policy Committee To Hold Aug. 11 Hearing On A.I. Data Center Development In Lackawanna County [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Scranton Times: State Senate To Hold A.I. Data Center Hearing At Valley View High School
-- MCall: As Electric Bills Rise Due To A.I. Data Center Demand, PJM Electricity Auction, What Lehigh Valley Utilities Say To Expect [PPL - Last 2 PJM Auctions Have Increased Monthly Bills $20 With No Benefit To Customers] [PDF of Article]
-- The Allegheny Front - Kara Holsopple: What’s Behind Higher Electricity Prices? The Regional Grid Explained
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: The Price Of A.I. - How Is A.I. Impacting Energy Production And Prices?
-- Scranton Times: Proposed State Senate Bill To Fast Track Data Centers, Limit Local Zoning [Senate Bill 939] [PDF of Article]
-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers And Cryptocurrency Mining Energy Use Needs A Clear Disadvantage - By Karen Elias, Climate Reality [PDF of Article]
[Posted: August 4, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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