Speaking in one voice, Powering PA Forward will advocate for smart, long-term energy policies that ensure Pennsylvania families and businesses have access to reliable and affordable energy, and that those who deliver it can continue to invest in the infrastructure and jobs that power the Commonwealth’s economy.
Powering PA Forward’s creation comes at a critical time as PJM, the regional grid operator, and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation both agree that Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region face a growing gap between energy supply and demand.
The Commonwealth is seeing new economic activity, including advanced manufacturing, electrification and proposed data center development, which is placing increasing demands on the grid.
To meet this growth, Pennsylvania needs new generation capacity, but without policy action, families and businesses will see higher energy costs, strained reliability and a competitive disadvantage that will cost jobs.
“It’s time to tell the story of the tremendous benefits utilities provide to communities all across this Commonwealth,” said Jon O’Brien, executive director of the Keystone Contractors Association. “Utilities are putting people to work, constantly upgrading their equipment and heavily contributing to our tax base.
“Powering PA Forward looks forward to telling this economic development success story, while at the same time calling for critical improvements to Pennsylvania’s energy policies that put families and small businesses first.”
In a letter to announce the coalition’s formation, Powering PA Forward members wrote--
“Just this past December, PJM, the regional entity responsible for ensuring that there is enough supply to meet demand, held a competitive auction that failed to secure enough power to meet its current reliability target for the first time.
“Without sufficient supply, electric utilities, which are obligated to meet customer energy demands, will be unable to fulfill their legal obligations.
“This will result in reduced reliability of electric service and lost economic opportunities.
“If the generation shortfall goes unaddressed, costs will continue to rise, and Pennsylvanians could face the prospect of rolling blackouts or brownouts as energy becomes a scarce commodity.
“For nearly 9 million families and businesses that depend on reliable, affordable energy, the consequences would be severe.”
Pennsylvania’s regulated utilities are a critical part of the solution.
Overseen by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, these utilities are accountable to both regulatory agencies and the communities they serve.
They deliver energy to nearly 9 million Pennsylvania residents and businesses, reinvesting over $3 billion annually into infrastructure upgrades, electric lines, pipelines and grid modernization that support nearly 15,000 jobs for Pennsylvania.
That investment is only possible when sound energy policy provides a stable foundation.
“Utilities then invest $3 billion annually from their regulated profits into infrastructure projects that put Pennsylvanians to work,” said Matt Espenshade, president of the Pennsylvania State Grange. “Powering PA Forward wants to protect these investments and the jobs they create, and work to find a long-term solution to address our energy needs. That’s a strategy that will benefit our agriculture industry and all Pennsylvanians.”
In only a short time, the following organizations have signed on to be Powering PA Forward members: Adams County Economic Alliance; America's Rural Energy Coalition; Builders Guild of Western PA; Butler County Chamber of Commerce; Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce; Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry; Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce; Delaware County Chamber of Commerce; Electrical Association of Philadelphia; Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership; Focus Central PA; Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce; Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC; Juniata River Valley Chamber; Keystone Contractors Association; Lancaster Chamber of Commerce; Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce; Manufacturer & Business Association; NAIOP Pittsburgh; NFIB-PA Chapter; Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Association; PA Association of Milk Dealers; PA Builders Association; Pennsylvania State Grange; Penn’s Northeast; Penn-Northwest Development Corporation; PennAg Industries Association; Pittsburgh Works Together; Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce; Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce; West Shore Chamber of Commerce; and Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
Visit the Powering PA Forward website for more information and an updated membership list.
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- DEP: Wastewater Spill At Repsol Oil & Gas USA Shale Gas Well Pad In Bradford County Results In Recovery Of 166,729 Gallons Of Contaminated Water, So Far [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 11 [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold May 12 Hearing On Individual Stormwater Permit For The 5.8 Mile HCPP 30-Inch Natural Gas Pipeline Serving The 4.5 GW Homer City A.I. Data Center Power Plant In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On CNX Midstream Project To Prevent Damage To 4 Natural Gas Gathering Pipelines From Longwall Coal Mining In Greene County [PaEN]
-- TribLive - Joe Napsha: CNX Midstream Seeks To Tap Beaver Run Drinking Water Reservoir For Fracking Water In Westmoreland County
-- DEP Posted 64 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 11 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold May 11 Hearing On North Centre Twp. PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Hazardous Site Response In 12 Municipalities In Columbia County Involving Contaminated Sewage Sludge [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Plan Approval To Reactivate Engines, Oil-Fired Boilers, Cooling Towers At Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant In Dauphin County [PaEN]
-- DEP: A.I. Data Center Developer Edged Energy Submits Notice Of Intent To Remediate Site In South Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Submission Of Water Quality Data For Evaluation Of 34 Wild Trout Stream Designations In 19 Counties [PaEN]
-- PUC Publishes Proposed Rule Regulating Electric Distributed Energy, Aggregation Resources, Virtual Power Plant Participation In Wholesale Energy Markets [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- House Energy Committee To Meet April 13 To Consider GeoThermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, PA Energy Development Authority Bills; Sets April 14 Hearing On Net Metering [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - April 13 [PaEN]
-- Bloomberg: PJM Interconnection Announces Emergency Proposal Seeking 15 Gigawatts Of New Power Supplies To Address Potential Shortages Caused By A.I. Data Center Demand [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For Mid-Atlantic (Pennsylvania), Southern Regions For April 14-15 [PaEN]
-- PUC Publishes Proposed Rule Regulating Electric Distributed Energy, Aggregation Resources, Virtual Power Plant Participation In Wholesale Energy Markets [PaEN]
-- PUC Raises Cost, Other Concerns With Proposed 222 Mile Kammer Juniata Electric Transmission Line Project Going Through 10 PA Counties [To Help Feed A.I. Data Center Demands In Eastern PA] [PaEN]
-- Beaver County Residents Tell DEP To Enforce Existing Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Pollution Limits, Not Give Them A New Permit Increasing Pollution [PaEN]
-- DEP Hosts April 15 Webinar On How To Do Trenchless Pipeline Construction Safely After Major Incidents In 2025 Causing The Release Of 1.2 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluids Into Abandoned Mine Voids In Washington County. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Seeks Comments On Environmental Impacts Of Proposed Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Project Impacting Susquehanna County, PA; New York And Delaware [PaEN]
-- Local Governments: Apply To DEP’s Community Energy Development Program By April 15 For Help In Developing Energy Transition Plans [PaEN]
-- City Of Pittsburgh To Develop Solar Energy Facility On Steel Slag Disposal Area In Swisshelm Park To Cut Energy Costs By $2.6 Million At 4 Public Schools [PaEN]
-- PA Solar Center, Partners Host April 17 Webinar On How Energy Storage, Solar Energy Create Resilient Communities Featuring DEP's Report On Microgrids, Energy Storage [PaEN]
-- PA Extends Low-Income Energy Assistance Program Application Period To May 8; President Calls For Eliminating The Program Next Year [PaEN]
-- DEP State Water Plan Program Hosting 4 Upcoming Webinars On Dry Cooling; Developing Local Climate Action Plans; Overview Of The PUC Water Programs; Coastal Zone Grants [PaEN]
-- EPA Moves To Weaken Rule To Reduce Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Operations [PaEN]
-- Powering PA Forward: Broad Coalition Forms To Champion Smart Energy Policies, Protect PA Jobs And Economic Growth [PaEN]
-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Joins Lawsuit Over Federal Repeal Of Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Center Square: As State Lawmakers Mull Bills, PA Community Pushback On A.I. Data Centers Is Widespread
-- Williamsport Sun: Panelists Compare Coming A.I. Data Centers To What Shale Gas Did To The Region; ‘This Isn’t Something That You Stop’ Said PPL President ‘It’s Something You Are Responsible With’ [PDF of Article]
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PA A.I. Data Centers: How State Lawmakers Are Responding, From Electricity And Water Use To Proposing More Tax Breaks
-- Utility Dive: Pennsylvania DEP Seeks Potential Fast-Track Energy Storage, Generation Projects In Response To PJM Expedited Interconnection Track
-- The Center Square: Non-Disclosure Agreements With Local Officials On A.I. Data Centers Spur Talk Of ‘Secret Deals’
-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Calls PECO ‘s Proposed 12.5% Electric, 11.4% Natural Gas Increase ‘Pure Greed’
-- WPXI: Family Says Duquesne Light Power Surge Fried Their Appliances, Affected 20 Neighbors
-- PATownHall.com Guest Essay: PA Manufacturers’ Association Opposes Caps On Price Of Electricity, Energy - Because The Competitive Market Works [PDF of Article]
-- Inquirer: Energy Prices Are Up, These Smart Moves Can Help Your Business Save Money
-- WESA/Allegheny Front: Shell Petrochemical Plant Draft Air Permit Finds Support, Opposition At DEP Hearing
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: DEP Hearing On Proposed Emission Limit Increases For Shell Petrochemical Plant A Temperature Check For Residents, Union Workers In Beaver County [PDF of Article]
-- Public Source Pittsburgh: DEP Hearing On Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Permit Brings Out Economic Benefits And Health, Compliance Concerns
-- TribLive Letter: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Continues To Pollute - By Clara Jane Mack, Oakland, Pittsburgh
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: DEP Fines Eureka Resources $100,000 For Oil & Gas Wastewater Spills, Other Violations In Bradford, Lycoming County
-- York Daily Record: Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Wants To Draw More Water From Susquehanna River For Its Restart
-- TribLive: Solar Energy Facility Planned In Swisshelm Park Would Power 4 Pittsburgh Public Schools
-- TheDerrick.com: Oil City Hears From Solar Energy Company On Proposed Installation Near High School In Venango County
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Green Group Gives Pennsylvania ‘F’ On Solar Energy Facility Permitting
-- PennLive: Pennsylvanians Could Lose Millions Used To Help People Pay Heating Bills Under President’s Proposed Budget Cuts
-- TribLive Letter: PA’s Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee An Example Of Effective Taxation - By Jeff Smith, Butler [For The Industry Only, Not As A Reliable Source Of Revenue To Pay Local Governments, Others For The Damage Done By The Industry]
-- Erie Times Guest Essay: PA Helped Build US Energy Future Once, We Need To Do It Again With More Natural Gas Power Plants - By former State Senator John Peterson [Leaving Us Vulnerable To Price Spikes, With 1,000s Of Abandoned Wells]
-- Commonwealth Foundation Guest Essay: Pennsylvania LNG Natural Gas Key To American Energy Independence [Making Pennsylvanians Compete For Their Own Gas With High-Priced Overseas Markets]
-- Ohio Capital Journal: More Natural Gas Generation Coming To Ohio To Feed A.I. Data Centers [But Will Not Increase Generation Diversity To Avoid Price Spikes For ‘Ordinary People’]
-- Utility Dive: Supply Crunch For Natural Gas Power Plant Turbines Set To Raise Prices 195% By 2027; 5 Year Wait For Large Turbines, Report
-- US EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook As Of April 7
-- The Guardian: Oil And Natural Gas Crisis From US President’s War On Iran Worse Than 1973, 1979 And 2022 Together, Says IEA
-- NYT: It Will Take Months To Get Oil And Natural Gas Flowing Again From The Gulf
[Posted: April 8, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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