In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - October 6

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

Electricity Price Surge

-- Union Of Concerned Scientists Reports 16 A.I./Data Center Electric Transmission Projects In PA Imposed $461.8 Million In Costs On Ratepayers In 2024  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: A.I. Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring, Wholesale Electricity Costs Up As Much As 267%  [PDF of Article] 

-- Utility Dive: Report: Customers In PJM States Paid $4.4 Billion For A.I. Data Center Electric Transmission In 2024; In Pennsylvania $492 Million

-- Utility Dive: A.I. Data Centers ‘Primary Reason’ For High PJM Electricity Capacity Prices, According To Market Monitor [‘Misleading’ To Say Its Tightening Of Supply And Demand] 

-- WIRED: Why US Power Bills Are Surging: Rising Electricity Demand, Volatile Fuel Prices, Tariffs, Long Delays Adding New Generation [Not Renewables, The Cheapest Source Of New Generation]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Don’t Let A.I. Data Centers Stick Us With The Bill - By Frank Lasee, Truth In Energy and Climate 

-- PPL Utilities Files For 6.98% Electric Rate Increase Boosting Residential Customer Bills By $160.44 A Year Or $13.37/Month  

-- Morning Call: PPL Electric Requesting Nearly 7% Rate Increase; Here’s What It Could Mean To Your Bill

-- Bloomberg: A.I.- Driven Demand For Natural Gas Generation Turbines Vastly Outpacing Supply, Threatening World’s Ability To Keep Up With Electricity Demand 

Protecting Ratepayers/Public

-- The Center Square: State Legislation On A.I. Data Centers Taking Shape  [Warning] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Preserve Local Control On Regulating Natural Gas Facilities - By Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition  

-- Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: Building A.I. Data Centers Without Breaking Electric Ratepayers Or Reliability In PJM

-- PA Environmental Council: Is Pennsylvania Ready For An A.I. Data Center Boom?  Risk Factors And Possible Solutions - By John Walliser, VP for Legal & Government Affairs  

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Lawmaker Rep. Matzie Seeks Study Of Costs Of Leaving PJM Electric Grid Operator  [PDF of Article] 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Southwestern PA Must Plan Smarter For A.I. Data Centers - By Panini A. Chowdhury, Professional Planner

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: To Address Affordability, Tightening Supply And Demand, States Need To Address Siting, Permitting, Other Issues To Assure New Electricity Supplies - By Asim Haque, PJM Senior Vice President

-- TribLive Letter: Stop The Abuse Of Our Natural Resources - By Katie Forsythe, North Huntingdon [Homer City A.I. Data Centers Power Plant]

-- Water At Risk: PJM Grid Operator And Why Electric Bills Keep Climbing In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association [PaEN]  

-- Beaver Times: Study: Droughts, Demand From A.I. Data Centers, Farming, Post Risks For Great Lakes Region Water Supplies

Why Pennsylvania?

-- Capitol Wire: Team Pennsylvania’s Strategy For Data Centers And A.I. Promotes Regional Cooperation

-- Data Center Frontier: DCED Explains Why A.I. Data Center Developers Are Choosing Pennsylvania

Upcoming Events

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Nov. 19 Webinar On A.I. Data Centers And Water Resources  [PaEN] 

Public Comments

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 77 Emergency Power Generators At The Amazon Data Center In Salem Twp., Luzerne County  [PaEN] 

Land Use

-- Environmental Advocates Call On DEP To Reject Permit For A 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant At The Homer City A.I. Data Center Complex In Indiana County [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Ordinance Dies In Archbald Following Community Opposition In Lackawanna County  [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times: Archbald Residents Push Back Against Proposed A.I. Data Center Zoning   [PDF of Article] 

-- WNEP: Archbald Residents Voice Opposition To Proposed A.I. Data Center Zoning Law

-- Scranton Times: Zoning Hearing Sept. 29, Special Meeting Oct. 3 To Shape Archbald’s A.I. Data Center Future In Lackawanna County  [PDF of Article]   

-- Citizens Voice: Wright Township Adopts Ordinance To Regulate A.I. Data Centers In Luzerne County 

-- Inquirer: Plymouth Twp. Planning Board Voted Against Special Exception For Proposed A.I. Data Center Outside Conshohocken, Montgomery County; Neighbors Rallied Against It Within Days 

-- TribLive: TECfusions A.I. Data Center To Be Live By End Of Year In Upper Burrell Twp., Westmoreland County 

-- Republican Herald: Butler Township Supervisors OK A.I. Data Centers In Business Park In Schuylkill County  [PDF of Article]  

-- LancasterOnline: Plans Submitted For Lancaster City A.I. Data Center’s 2nd Phase  [PDF of Article]

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Council To Consider New A.I. Data Center Rules Oct. 6  [PDF of Article] 

A.I. Policy

-- AP: Regulators Struggle To Keep Up With The Fast-Moving, Complicated Landscape Of A.I. Therapy Apps [PA Mentioned]

-- NPR: Kiss Reality Goodbye - A.I. Generated Social Media Has Arrived 

[Posted: October 5, 2025]  PA Environment Digest