In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - October 19

Politics

-- Fortune: How Rural PA’s $165 Million Data Center Fight Became Representative Of The Bipartisan Battle Against A.I. In Luzerne County 

-- Morning Call: What Do Lehigh Valley’s Legislative Candidates Think About A.I. Data Centers? We Asked Them  

-- Scranton Times: Sen. Katie Muth: NE PA A.I. Data Center Resistance Is ‘Giving Me Courage’

-- New York Times: How Pennsylvania Explains The Forces Shaping The Midterm Elections

-- The Economist: A.I. Data Centers Are Turning US President’s Voters Into Democrats; Backlash Could Swing Close Races In Midterm Elections 

-- City & State PA: PA US Sen. McCormick’s Red Tape-Cutting Efforts For Energy, A.I. , Other Projects Take Center Stage In Philadelphia With Industry Stakeholders [One-Sided Conversation Without Citizen Stakeholders] 

-- WHYY: PA US Sen. McCormick Offers A Prescription For High Costs: Less Government Red Tape, Eliminating Regulations 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: 10.5 Million Words Of Regulations Stand In The Way Of A.I., Energy Development In Pennsylvania - By PA US Sen. Dave McCormick [McCormick’s Wife Is President And Vice Chairman Of Meta/Facebook]

Grid

-- PUC Invites Comments On Regulations To Give Electric Utilities New Tools To Manage Data Centers During Emergency Periods Of Strained Electricity Supplies And Curtailments To Maintain Grid Reliability  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Reports Operating With Only 66% Of Its Generation Capacity Available During Recent Maximum Generation Alerts; About One-Third Of The Power Plant Outages Were Unexpected  [PaEN]  

-- Gov. Shapiro Files Petition To Intervene In PPL Electric Rate Case To Protect Customers From Costs And Reliability Risks From A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Extends Maximum Generation Alert To Oct. 14 Due To Unusually Warm Weather, Equipment Outages; Calls On Demand Response To Reduce Power Load  [PaEN]

-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Interconnection Issues Alerts Warning Of Tight Electricity Supplies

-- PJM Issues Maximum Generation Alert For Oct. 13 Due To Unusually Warm Weather, Equipment Outages; Received DOE Order To Switch Data Centers To Backup Generation, If Needed  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Rejects Most Of PJM’s ‘Bring Your Own Power’ Data Center Load Plan Saying It Intrudes On State Jurisdiction, May Be Discriminatory  [FERC Rejected PJM’s Backstop Energy Plan Earlier] 

-- The Allegheny Front: FERC Denies Plan That Would Shield Energy Customers From A.I. Data Center Demand To Avoid Blackouts

-- Utility Dive: PJM Plans To Study Ohio ‘Flagship’ A.I. Data Center, 10.2 GW Natural Gas Power Plant, Transmission Line Project On Federal Land Under A State Agreement Process

-- Wall Street Journal: ‘Phantom’ A.I. Data Centers Are Demanding More From The Power Grid Than They Need Leading To Higher Electricity Rates 

Generation

-- PJM Reports Operating With Only 66% Of Its Generation Capacity Available During Recent Maximum Generation Alerts; About One-Third Of The Power Plant Outages Were Unexpected  [PaEN]  

-- Axios-Pittsburgh: Report: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Power Generation To Grow 15% By 2030 Due To A.I. Data Center Demand

-- Altoona Mirror - Robert Swift: PUC/Team PA Report Identifies 21 Possible Sites For A.I. Data Center Power Plants 

-- PA Capital-Star: PUC/Team PA Study Identifies 21 Potential Sites For A.I. Data Center Power Plants

-- Williamsport Sun: PUC Study Searches For Power Plant Sites To Be Reactivated For Data Centers, Looks At Lock Haven

-- AP: US Is Reviving Shuttered Nuclear Power Plants To Meet Growing A.I. .Data Center Electricity Demand  [Includes Three Mile Island] 

Land Use

-- Scranton Times: Project Gravity A.I. Data Center Developer To Have Info Session Oct. 14; Opponents Hold Public Meeting Oct. 15  

-- Scranton Times Chris Kelly Opinion: Project Gravity A.I. Data Center Developer Hopes To Change Public Opinion With Meeting And Light Refreshments

-- Scranton Times: Project Gravity A.I. Data Center Developers Meet With Skeptical Public In Archbald, Lackawanna County

-- WVIA: Archbald Residents Still Skeptical After Open House With Project Gravity A.I. Data Center Complex Developers In Lackawanna County

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Residents Sue Newport Twp., Commissioners Over A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex Zoning Approval In Luzerne County

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Fit Energy To Host Newport Twp. A.I. Data Center /Power Plant Complex Information Session On Oct. 28 In Luzerne County

-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: $10,000/Household Didn’t Work, Developer Of Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Center To Hold Oct. 22 Open House To Talk About What’s Next In Luzerne County

-- Republican Herald: PPL Plans High-Voltage Electric Line Leading To Amazon Data Center In Hazleton Area, Luzerne County 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Butler Twp. Supervisors To Consider A.I. Data Center Ordinance Oct. 13 In Luzerne County 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Butler Twp. A.I. Data Center Ordinance Approved, But May Be Adjusted In The Future In Luzerne County

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Bear Creek Twp. Passes A.I. Data Center Ordinance, Rejects Industrial Zone Expansion 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: PPL Will Unveil New Powerline Plan At Open Houses In McAdoo (Oct. 14), Berwick (Oct. 15) To Feed Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Center Project 

-- Morning Call: Allentown Planning Commission Approves A.I. Data Center Near Homes, Businesses, Nonprofit Over Widespread Public Opposition

-- Morning Call: Upper Mount Bethel Twp. Faces 2nd Zoning Challenge For Another A.I. Data Center/Power Plant Complex In Northampton County 

-- Morning Call: Upper Mount Bethel Twp. To Meet Oct. 19 On First Legal Challenge From A.I. Data Center Developer In Northampton County 

-- Morning Call: How Upper Mount Bethel Twp. Could Get $50 Million If It Approves Updated A.I. Data Center Plans In Northampton County 

-- Altoona Mirror: Taylor Twp., Lycoming County Residents Quoted Gov. Shapiro Saying If A Community Doesn’t Want A Data Center, It Won’t Be Built; Why Can’t Townships Simply Prohibit Data Centers? 

-- Williamsport Sun: Muncy Township’s Updated A.I. Data Center Ordinance Online For Public Review In Lycoming County

-- Williamsport Sun: Muncy Township Solicitor Assures Residents A.I. Data Center Legal Battle Could Go On For Years

-- PennLive - John Beauge: A.I. Data Center Developer Starts Electric Substation Without Approval In Union County 

-- PennLive: Swatara Twp. Planning Commission Approves 1 Of 2 Pending A.I. Data Center Projects After $120 Million Community Benefits  Agreement Approval In Dauphin County

-- PennLive: Swatara Twp. Planning Commission Reviews 2nd A.I. Data Center Proposal After Twp. Supervisors Accepted $120 Million Community Benefits Agreement In Dauphin County  

-- Inquirer: Amid A.I. Data Center Disputes, East Whiteland Twp. Hired A PR Firm, While Its Residents Hired An Attorney In Chester County

-- Post-Gazette: As A.I. Data Center Backlash Grows, Residents In Forward Twp.  Beg Leaders To ‘Please, Please Hear Us’ In Butler County

-- Post-Gazette: A Massive A.I. Data Center Is Proposed In Forward Twp., Butler County, But Residents In 3 Neighboring Townships Impacted By The Project Were Not Allowed To Be Heard 

-- WTAE: Elizabeth Twp. A.I. Data Center Proposal Still In Early Stages, After Contentious Town Hall Meeting In Allegheny County 

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Residents Urge Allegheny County To Reject Springdale A.I. Data Center Based On Noise, Pollution

-- TribLive: Residents Frustrated As First Allegheny County Hearing On Springdale A.I. Data Center Delays Public Comment

-- WESA: Organizers Say Springdale A.I. Data Center ‘Not A Done Deal,’ Allegheny County Has Final Say

-- Pittsburgh Business Journal: New A.I. Data Center Proposed In South Huntingdon Twp., Westmoreland County, About 1 Mile From Tenaska Natural Gas Power Plant

-- TribLive: A.I. Data Center Proposed For South Huntingdon Twp. ‘Still In Early Stages’ In Westmoreland County 

-- Observer-Reporter: Fayette County Residents Seek More Stringent A.I. Data Center Ordinance By County  [3.75 GW Power Plant Complex Proposed]

-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County Citizens’ Group Planning Rally Against A.I. Data Centers Saturday [Oct. 17]

-- TribLive: Indiana County Residents Say Homer City A.I. Data Center 4.2 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Discharges Will Damage Stream At DEP Hearing; Hot, Polluted Water Will Kill Aquatic Life 

-- TechRadar.com: Amazon Is Building A Massive 36 Building, 1,1000 A.I. Data Center Complex - Homer City Energy Complex Will Create Around 1,500 - 2,000 [Construction] Jobs Powered By Natural Gas  [Indiana County]

-- Pittsburgh Media Partnership: Pennsylvania A.I. Data Center Proposals Map

Public Participation/Meetings

-- PUC Invites Comments On Regulations To Give Electric Utilities New Tools To Manage Data Centers During Emergency Periods Of Strained Electricity Supplies And Curtailments To Maintain Grid Reliability  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Sets Nov. 20 Hearing On Stormwater Permit For PPL Stanton Summit Transmission Line Rebuild In Lackawanna County   [PaEN] 

-- DEP To Hold Public Meeting/Hearing Nov. 23 On Chapter 105 Permit For Project Atlas A.I. Data Center Complex In Lehigh County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Individual Stormwater Permit For The CDE Acquisitions LLC  Project Atlas A.I. Data Center Complex In Lehigh County  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: $10,000/Household Didn’t Work, Developer Of Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Center To Hold Oct. 22 Open House To Talk About What’s Next In Luzerne County

-- PA Data Center Hearings & Meetings - Physicians For Social Responsibility PA

Impacts

-- Still Time To Register! Washington & Jefferson College Oct. 20 In-Person New Horizons Infrastructure, Energy And Data In The Coming Decade In Southwest PA

-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: A.I. Data Centers Have A Shelf Life, Who Pays For Cleanup In PA When They Close Years From Now?

[Posted: October 17, 2026] PA Environment Digest