Inside Climate News: Gov. Shapiro Joins 3 Other Governors In A Proposal To Give Priority To A.I. Data Centers That Bring Their Own Electric Generation To The Grid

On October 30, Inside Climate News reported Gov. Shapiro joined the Governors from Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia to submit a proposal to PJM developed with the Data Center Coalition to give priority to A.I. data center projects that bring their own electric generations to the grid.

The proposal would offer a fast track approval process for both the data centers and the power sources they would build. 

The idea has been discussed by the PJM Market Monitor in several forums, including at a PA House Energy Committee hearing last week.  Read more here.

At least one energy researcher who reviewed the proposal said the strategy may also boost reliance by the new data centers on natural gas.

PJM’s inability to process grid applications in a timely manner has frustrated many governors across the grid operator’s 13-state service area.

Click Here to read the entire article.

Unprecedented Energy Challenges

The stampede to develop A.I. data centers is putting unprecedented pressure on the electric grid to bring new sources of electric generation into play and reduce energy demand and the Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan will help do that.

Electric ratepayers are already paying the price for the lack of effective action on regional grid issues as the PJM Market Monitor group reported last week-- $16.6 billion in increased electricity costs in the last year as a result of projected data center demand in the PJM regional grid.  Read more here.

Gov. Shapiro’s 2024 lawsuit against the PJM Interconnection put a cap on wholesale electric auction prices PJM runs that saved consumers an estimated $21 billion in the PJM grid, but only for auctions in 2025 and 2026. Read more here.

On November 6, the Public Utility Commission is expected to take action on a model tariff for connecting large load - A.I. Data Centers-- that will give some protection to electric ratepayers, according to Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. Read more here.

However, witnesses at an October 22 House Energy Committee hearing said other steps are needed, including--

-- Require data centers to bring their own generation - PJM Market Monitor, PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Authorize the PUC to set conditions for allowing centers to be served by the grid - PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Require center contributions to Universal Service Assistance Programs and LIHEAP to reduce the impact of electricity prices increases on lower income ratepayers - PA Utility Law Project

-- Need to prioritize existing loads and ratepayers on the grid - PJM Market Monitor, PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Require centers to take electrical service on an interruptible basis during supply shortage periods - PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Authorize the PUC to set power curtailment priorities - PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Encourage backup generation at centers other than diesel to reduce environmental impacts - PA Consumer Advocate

Resource Links:

-- Gov. Shapiro Proposes ‘Lightning’ Energy Plan To Increase & Diversify Energy Generation; Reduce Climate Changing Pollution; Lower Energy Costs; Create Jobs  [PaEN] 

-- House, Senate Members Introduce Gov. Shapiro's 'Lightning' Energy Plan To Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs, Protect Pennsylvania From Global Energy Instability  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro: Lightning Plan Tax Credit Bill, Community Energy Pass PA House  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro Provides Update On The Fight To Lower Energy Prices, Calls On General Assembly To Move His Commonsense Lightning Energy Plan   [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] 

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Oct. 25 to 31 - 100 Criminal Charges Filed; 49-Hour Uncontrolled Shale Gas Well; Failed To Clean Up Conventional Well Spills For 1,364  Days And Counting  [PaEN]

-- [Read Carefully!]  PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 1 [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN]  

     -- DEP Invites Comments On First Title V Air Quality Permit For the Calpine Mid-Merit II 1,449 MW Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant In York County; To Supply Power To Data Center Project  [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Sets Dec. 1 Hearing On Revised Title V Air Quality Permit For The Monroe Energy LLC Trainer Refinery In Delaware County  [PaEN]  

-- [Read Carefully! An Unusual Number Of Hearings, Big Permits] DEP Posted 77 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 1 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- Attorney General Sunday: Criminal Charges Filed Against Seneca Resources For 64 Counts Of Illegal Dumping Of Shale Gas Waste In Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties  [PaEN]

-- Capital & Main: Pennsylvania Gas Producer [CNX Resources] Sues Capital & Main Over Its Reporting On Health Risks [Trying To Silence Its Reporting]  [PaEN]  

-- House Environmental Committee To Hold Nov. 5 Hearing On Impacts Of Proposed LNG Natural Gas Export Terminal In Southeast PA  [PaEN] 

-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough: Environmental Groups Urge Environmental Quality Board To Accept Rulemaking Petition For Study Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Coterra Energy 49-Hour Shale Gas Well Control Incident While Fracking Resulting In Spraying Production Fluids Over Well Pad, Releasing Natural Gas In Susquehanna County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Solicits Bids On 2 Contracts To Plug 25 Abandoned Conventional Wells In Erie County At Taxpayer Expense; 1 Conventional Well In Clearfield County Expected To Cost $200,000+ To Plug  [PaEN]

-- DEP Air Quality Advisory Committee Meets Nov. 6 To Hear Presentations On VOC Emissions Reporting From Conventional Oil & Gas/Shale Gas Wells And Air Pollution From A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Inside Climate News: Gov. Shapiro Joins 3 Other Governors In A Proposal To Give Priority To A.I. Data Centers That Bring Their Own Electric Generation To The Grid  [PaEN]  

-- Gov. Shapiro, Oklahoma Gov. Stitt Lead Bipartisan National Governors Assn. Group Recommending Energy Facility Permitting Reform To Address Nation’s Energy Crisis [PaEN]  

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 3  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips:  PA Attorney General Files Criminal Charges Against Seneca Resources Shale Gas Driller For Illegal Waste Disposal In 8 PA Counties; Company Says It’s ‘An Industry Leader’  

-- Bradford Era: Seneca Resources Shale Gas Driller Charged For Wastewater Dumping 

-- ExploreJeffersonPA.com: Seneca Resources Faces 114 Criminal Charges For Illegal Waste Disposal Throughout Region  

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: All Major Players In PA’s Budget Impasse Met In Person This Week, Will A Deal Follow?  [RGGI, Permit, Regulatory Changes In Play]

-- KDKA: PUC Chair DeFrank: Concerns About Rising Electric Bills From A.I. Data Centers Are Legitimate; Development Of Centers Must Be ‘Well Planned, Well Thought’ Out

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA Needs Every Tool, Every MW To Meet Growing Energy Demand - By Andrew Tubbs, Energy Utility Association Of PA

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: PA Residents Shouldn’t Pay The Price For A.I. Data Center-Spiked Electricity Rates  [PDF of Article]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: The Energy Utility Association Of PA Proposes To Place Risk Of Increasing Electric Generation On Ratepayers - By Nora Brownell, Former PA PUC Commissioner

-- WHYY: Republican Lawmakers From PA, NJ, VA, MD Weigh Solutions To Rising Electricity Bills Driven By A.I. Data Centers - Faster Permitting, Ending Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative In PA [That Was Never Implemented]

[Posted: October 30, 2025]  PA Environment Digest