Data center development is expanding rapidly in Southwestern Pennsylvania. A prior event regarding data centers in Fayette County left people with more questions than answers.
The “People’s Townhall” will address those issues, including environmental impacts, economic and energy repercussions, and the importance of protective ordinances.
[Note: On September 1, NextEra Energy announced it had selected a 700 acre site in Luzerne Township, Fayette County for a 3,75 GW natural gas data center power plant complex. Read more here.]
"Fayette County got one perspective from industry and other power brokers back in June,” says Nate Ricketts, a community organizer with Mountain Watershed Association. “This event is an opportunity for residents to learn about the impacts they could face if the door is held open for data centers."
Four speakers are confirmed--
-- Kat Marquez from PennFuture
-- Nina Victoria from Center for Coalfield Justice
-- Sean O’Leary from Ohio River Valley Institute, and
-- Eric Harder, Youghiogheny Riverkeeper.
Questions from the crowd are welcome, and light refreshments will be provided. Registration is not required.
The meeting will be held at the Connellsville Area Community Center, 201 East Fairview Avenue in Connellsville from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The meeting will also be available virtually, on Zoom. Follow this link to join online.
Click Here for more information on this event.
Questions should be directed to 724-455-4200 or nate@mtwatershed.com.
Visit the Mountain Watershed Association and Center for Coalfield Justice websites for more information.
Resource Links:
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: NextEra Energy Picks 700 Acre Site In Luzerne Twp., Fayette County For 3.75 GW Natural Gas Data Center Power Plant Complex [Entire Township Over Known Mined Out Coal Mines Subject To Subsidence Risk (DEP)]
-- PennLive/Tribune News: Massive 7,200 Acre PPL Utilities Joint Venture Land Deal In Lackawanna County Paves Way For More Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants
-- Scranton Times: PPL Utilities Joint Venture Purchases 500 Acres In Luzerne County For 2 Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants; No Agreements Signed With Customers Yet [Not For The Public]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PA Public Utility Commission Forecasts Data Center-Driven Industrial Electricity Use In Pennsylvania Will Increase 18.56% A Year Thru 2030; Up From 0.22% Annually In 2024 [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Extends Maximum Generation Alert, Load Management Alert To Sept. 2; Requested, Received DOE Approval To Require Data Centers, Large Loads To Go To Backup Generation If Needed [PaEN]
-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2nd Quarter PA Natural Gas Production Declines Slightly Again; Price Of Natural Gas For Residential Customers Increased By 7.3% From Prior Year [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Energy Bills Driven By A.I. Data Centers Threaten PA Small Businesses, Report Says
-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: Gov. Shapiro’s Executive Order On Data Centers Hasn’t Slowed Momentum Of Developers Looking To Build Big In PA Communities
-- New York Times: Pennsylvania A.I. Gold Rush Meets 2nd Thoughts; Amid Backlash Gov. Shapiro Is Pumping The Brakes On Enormous Data Centers; But Some Welcome Billions In Construction
-- The Conversation: Data Center Projects In Pennsylvania Face Stronger Local Scrutiny After Gov. Shapiro’s Executive Order - By Michael Helbing, Adjunct Professor of Law, Penn State University
-- PennLive: Some PA Lawmakers Regret $1.8 Billion State Tax Break For A.I. Data Centers - So Why Won’t They Kill It?
-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Needs A Mandatory A.I. Data Center Moratorium - By Deena Stoudt, Food & Water Watch; Gillian Wenhold, Lehigh Valley Stands Up; and Michael Friend, Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America
-- PennLive Guest Essay: When Farmland Disappears, So Does A Way Of Life [Data Centers] - By Sam Burleigh, Anthony Twp., Montour County
-- Inquirer: PA US Sen. Fetterman Backs President On A.I. Data Centers, Blames China For ‘Misinformation” On A.I.
-- Bloomberg: President Says ‘Let Data [Centers] Reign’ In Response To A.I. Data Center Blowback [Communities Not Wanting Data Centers ‘Want To End Up Being Backwards And Poor’]
[Posted: September 2, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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