In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - January 5

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

Proliferation

-- Spotlight PA: Map Shows Growing Number Of A.I. Data Centers Planned Across Pennsylvania 

-- TribLive: What To Look For In 2026 In Western PA [Data Centers, 4.5 GW Homer City Power Plant]

Energy Costs

-- Warren Times: Don’t Count On Lower Electricity Prices In 2026 [Data Centers Driving Increases]

-- National Fuel Gas Projects 2026-27 Natural Gas Costs To Increase 6.82%

-- WTAJ: National Fuel Natural Gas Prices Set To Rise For Over 200,000 Pennsylvanians In 2026 

-- Beaver Times: National Fuel Gas Projected To Raise PA Customers’ Rates 6.82% In August

-- PennLive Guest Essay: The Public’s A.I. Power Problem Is Not Electricity, It’s The Failure To Protect Ratepayers From Costs They Did Not Choose- Matt Hasan, Ph.D, CEO of aiRESULTS

-- PennLive Letter: President’s War On Wind Energy Will Make Your Electric Bill Higher - By David Kyle, New Columbia

-- Wall Street Journal: Be Prepared To Keep Paying More For Electricity - A.I. Data Center Demands, Rising Natural Gas Prices, Grid Infrastructure Costs [PDF of Article]

-- Fortune: Negative Prices For Electricity Getting More Common In Europe With Increase In Renewable Generation, While Americans Face Rising Energy Bills 

-- The Guardian: From Rent To Utility Bills: The Politicians And Advocates Making Climate Policy Part Of The Affordability Agenda

Grid

-- The Center Square: New Year, Old Challenges As A.I. Data Centers Face Uncertain Path To Power Connections, PA’s Electrical Grid ‘Buckling’ Under Rising Demand

-- PJM Interconnection: 2025 Year In Review Part I - Operations Improvement See Regional Electric Grid Through Record Peaks, Growing Demand  [PaEN]

Electric Generation

-- The Center Square: Battle To Modernize Pennsylvania’s Energy Generation Mix Will Rage On In 2026, While Preparing For A Surge In New Demand From A.I. Data Centers

-- PennLive: President’s Former Energy Chair Says Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers ‘Will Never Work’ 

-- The Hill Guest Essay: Microsoft Wants To Resurrect Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant - It Will Never Happen - By Neil Chatterjee, Former Chair of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

-- Sen. Boscola, Sen. Vogel Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Promote Development Of Much-Needed Solar Energy Electric Generation Facilities And Lower Costs For Consumers  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: New Financing Available For Philly-Area Homeowners Seeking To Install Rooftop Solar Energy Generation 

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: Solar Installers Pivot After ‘Mad Rush’ To Claim Federal Residential Tax Credit That Ended Dec. 31

-- Solar United Neighbors, Protect PT Host Jan. 22 Solar Energy In Southwest PA Community Meeting In Westmoreland County  [PaEN] 

-- Reuters Commentary: The 2025 Energy Transition In 8 Charts - Clean Wins, Dirty Setbacks 

Land Use

-- AP: Big Tech’s Fast-Expanding Plans For A.I. Data Centers Are Running Into Stiff Community Opposition [PA Highlighted]

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pittsburgh’s A.I. Skepticism Isn’t Ignorance, It’s Memory [Collapse Of Steel] - People Have ‘Every Right To Be Furious’ - By Desmond Daley, Physician and Pittsburgh Resident  [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times: Olyphant Boro Prepares Ordinance To Regulate A.I. Data Centers In Lackawanna County  [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Proposed In Ransom Twp., Lackawanna County [86th Data Center Building In The County]  [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: Clifton Twp. To Consider Settlement Jan. 7 With Developer Over Challenge To Zoning Ordinance Regulating Largest Proposed A.I. Data Center Campus In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Residents Pack Sugarloaf Twp. Meeting Dec. 30 On Proposed A.I. Data Center Land Development Rules In Luzerne County 

Environmental Justice

-- DEP Publishes Final Environmental Justice Permit Review And Public Participation Policy, Update To PennEnviroScreen EJ Tool  [PaEN] 

Public Participation

-- Protect PT Hosts Jan. 17 Living Near Shale Gas Facilities Community Workshop In Pittsburgh  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Jan. 26 Informational Meeting Set For Upper Burrell Twp. A.I. Data Center In Westmoreland County

-- Protect PT, FracTracker Alliance Host Jan. 27 Online Program Providing The Latest On Shale Gas Development And Information Tools  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Feb. 4 Hearing On First Title V Air Quality Permit For The Tenaska Natural Gas Power Plant In Westmoreland County; Water Quality Permit Up For Renewal  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Chapter 105 Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit For A 3.7 Mile Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Route In Elk And Forest Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Tentative Decision To Not Renew NPDES Wastewater Permits For 3 Fluid Recovery Services Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facilities In Indiana, Venango Counties  [PaEN] 

Legislation

-- PA House Committee Approves Legislation Giving Local Officials Greater Say Over Regional-Scale Developments Like A.I. Data Centers, Warehouses  [PaEN] 

-- Altoona Mirror: PA House Moves Legislation Giving Local Governments Authority Over Projects Of Regional Significance [House Bill 1764] 

A.I. Policy

-- Republican Herald Editorial: The Most Critical Fight In 2026 Is For Ourselves - The Blurry Line Between Reality And A.I.  [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive Editorial: A.I. Is Changing The Job Hunt

[Posted: January 4, 2026]  PA Environment Digest