In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - March 16

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

Energy Costs

-- WHYY: Electricity Rates Rising Along With Profits For Investor-Owned Utilities; How PECO’s Profits Impact Your Electricity Bill

-- The Center Square: Electricity Consumer Protection A Work In Progress For PA Lawmakers

-- PJM Interconnection Latest Power Auction Results In $164.70/MW-Day Clearing Price, Well Below $329/MW-Day Price Cap, Below Collar Floor  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Prices Following Global Prices Up And Down During President’s War With Iran 

-- Bloomberg: President’s War On Iran Is Good For America’s Natural Gas Industry

-- Wall Street Journal: Oil/Natural Gas Markets Brace For Lasting Turmoil In The Gulf

-- Post-Gazette/Inside Climate News: Price Spikes Caused By President’s War On Iran Could Have Major Repercussions For US Electricity, Natural Gas Prices [60% Of PA’s Electric Is Generated Using Gas, But The Price Is Set By International Markets]

-- Reuters Commentary: Tracking LNG Natural Gas Flows As Key Global Prices Go Haywire; Prices Likely To Be Elevated For Some Time [60% Of PA’s Electric Is Generated Using Gas, But The Price Is Set By International Markets]

-- AP: As Iran War Shakes Oil/Natural Gas Energy System, Some See Powerful Argument For Renewable Energy [Homegrown Renewable Energy Has Never Been Cheaper, More Accessible Or More Scalable]

-- Financial Times: Iran War Energy Shock Will Force Businesses To Rethink Energy [Beyond Oil/Natural Gas] ‘No One Will Leave Themselves Exposed Like This Again’  [PDF of Article]

-- The Economist: An Attack On The World Economy - Whatever Happens In The Strait Of Hormuz, Energy Markets Have Been Changed For Ever  [PDF of Article]

Rate Cases

-- PPL Utilities Files Non-Unanimous Rate Settlement Cutting Increase From $13.37/month To $7.42/Month; Providing 2-Year Freeze On Rates; Adding Large Load Tariff; $11 Million In Low-Income Energy Assistance  [PaEN]

Legislation

-- PA Capital-Star: PA, Minnesota Announce Plans To Introduce A.I. Data Center Moratoriums

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guess Essay: PA Never Had A Plan To Prepare For A.I. Data Centers, We Need A Temporary Statewide Moratorium - By Bill Jones, Republican Candidate For PA House District 117 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PA House Committee Advances Bill To Help Towns Set Guidelines On A.I. Data Center Construction

-- The Center Square: Electricity Consumer Protection A Work In Progress For PA Lawmakers

-- PA Rep. Craig Williams Says Harrisburg Needs To Codify ‘Promises’ Made By A.I. Data Center Companies

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Wants To Incentivize A.I. Data Centers To Be Better Neighbors; Will That Work?

Grid

-- Observer-Reporter: NextEra Files Applications For 107 Mile Electric Transmission Lines In Fayette, Greene Counties To Serve Maryland/Virginia [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive/AP: A.I. Data Centers Spurring A Big Expansion Of High-Voltage Power Lines, Landowners And Locals Are Fighting Back  [PA Highlighted] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Now Using Ambient-Adjusted Transmission Line Ratings To Allow Fuller Use Of Line Capacity 

-- Wall Street Journal: The Electric Grid Needs Huge Upgrades To Meet A.I. Data Center Demand, No One Knows Who Will Pay For Them

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: 20% Of Your Electric Bill Could Go To Electric Utility Profits

-- Scranton Times: PPL Utilities Profit Is Tops For Utilities In Northeast US 

-- PA Capital-Star: Utility Profits Rise As Household Bills Soar, New Analysis Finds

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: PPL Outlines 2026 Reliability Investments To Build A Stronger Grid 

-- PPL Utilities: Building A Stronger Grid - PPL Outlines 2026 Reliability Investments

-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Blog: Risks In A Changing US Power Grid Driven By A.I. Data Center Demand

State Agency Actions

-- DEP Receives Act 2 Land Recycling Notice On Former Cheswick Power Plant To Be Converted To Springdale A.I. Data Center In Allegheny County [PaEN]  

-- DEP Published Notice In March 14 PA Bulletin Of Title V Air Permit Renewal For Homer City Coal-Fired Power Plant Covering Shutdown, Emission Reduction Credits At The Site Of Proposed A.I. Data Center Campus. (PA Bulletin, page 1506)

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves Water Withdrawal Requests, Including An Increase For The Amazon Data Center In Luzerne County  [PaEN]

Generation

-- Erie Times: Can Tech Companies Bring Their Own Electricity To Power A.I. Data Centers [Like They Promised The President] In PA?  [PDF of Article]

-- LehghValleyLive.com: New Jersey Promoting Community Solar Energy Projects That Offer Steep Cuts To Electric Bills [Why Not PA?]

-- WESA/NPR: Easy-To-Use, Plug-In Solar Energy Panels To Reduce Electric Bills Are Here, But Utilities Are Trying To Delay Them

-- The Telegraphy Guest Essay: Abandoned Pennsylvania Mines And Waste-Heat Recycling Could Make The State’s Massive New A.I. Data Centers Far More Sustainable - By Wangda Zuo, Professor Of Architectural Engineering, Penn State

-- Wall Street Journal Letter: Abandoned Mines Can Become Data Centers - By Steve Gardner, P.E., former President, American Institute Of Mining, Metallurgical & Petroleum Engineers

Land Use

-- PA Capital-Star: PA, Minnesota Announce Plans To Introduce A.I. Data Center Moratoriums

-- Scranton Times: City Of Scranton To Discuss Amending Zoning To Regulate A.I. Data Center At March 10 Meeting  [PDF of Article]

-- WNEP: Hearing On Proposed ‘Wildcat’ 14 Building A.I. Data Center In Archbald Gets Heated As Hundreds Express Environmental, Economic Concerns In Lackawanna County

-- Scranton Times: 14 Building ‘Wildcat’ A.I. Data Center Proposal Faces Major Opposition In Archbald [PDF of Article]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Luzerne County Officials Still Revising Proposed A.I. Data Center Zoning Ordinance Covering 19 Municipalities 

-- WNEP: A.I. Data Center Sketch Plan Proposed In Smithfield Twp., Monroe County

-- PennLive: Texas Company Spends $50 Million To Buy 11 More Acres In Dauphin County For Planned A.I. Data Center

-- Inquirer: Proposal To Make A.I. Data Center 60% Bigger To Be Considered By East Whiteland Twp. Supervisors In Chester County After Fiery Planning Commission Meeting

-- Observer-Reporter: North Franklin Twp. Considering A.I. Data Center Ordinance In Washington County 

-- Observer-Reporter: Group Protests A.I. Data Centers Outside Private Meeting In Washington County

-- Residents Protest Outside Invite-Only Meeting Between Washington County Commissioners, Developers, A.I. Data Center Reps  [PaEN] 

Education

-- Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania’s A.I. Data Center Boom, By The Numbers: 53 Data Center Proposals; State Could Lose $2 Billion In Tax Money; 800% Increase In PJM Power Costs

-- University Of Scranton, Partners Host March 30 In-Person Program On How A.I. Data Centers Are Reshaping Pennsylvania's Energy Landscape, Pearn Auditorium, Scranton  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts March 31 Webinar - A.I. Data Centers In Pennsylvania Part 2 - Why Here? Why Now?  [PaEN] 

Other States

-- AP: Virginia Has An A.I. Data Center Boon, State Officials Debate Whether It’s Time To Scrap Its Tax Breaks

A.I. Policy

-- LancasterOnline: Why Does CoreWeave A.I. Data Center Developer Like Lancaster City? Co-Founder Shares At EDC Meeting

-- PA Capital-Star: How A Philadelphia High School Is Fighting A.I. Slop And Internet Lies

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Building The Workforce Our Region Deserves In The A.I. Data Center Era -  By Kelly O’Brien, Berwick Industrial Development Association

[Posted: March 15, 2026]  PA Environment Digest