Pennsylvania Data Center News

Jun 24, 2026

Construction employment rises in 30 states over past year, AGC reports

The Associated General Contractors of America reported that construction employment increased in 30 states and the District of Columbia between May 2025 and May 2026.

Main announcement: AGC reported state construction employment increased in 30 states and D.C. between May 2025 and May 2026; Texas added 18,700 jobs (2.1%), North Carolina added 13,600, Wisconsin added 9,000, and Wisconsin posted the largest percentage increase (6.2%); California recorded the largest annual decline at 13,100 jobs (−1.5%).
Monthly detail and risks: From April to May, construction employment increased in 23 states and D.C., declined in 22 states, and was unchanged in 5 states; monthly leaders included Texas (+3,600) and Wisconsin (+2,900). AGC officials Ken Simonson and Jeffrey D. Shoaf cautioned that opposition to data center projects and uncertainty over federal transportation funding pose threats to future construction job growth.

Jun 23, 2026

Budget Decisions Don’t Address Core Data Center Issues

The Piedmont Environmental Council announced that Virginia’s General Assembly and the governor are continuing a $2-billion-per-year tax exemption for data centers while proposing an “electricity use tax” equal to one-third of that exemption.

Main announcement/action: The PEC criticizes the continuation of a $2-billion-per-year tax exemption for data centers and highlights a proposed “electricity use tax” that is one-third of that exemption; the PEC calls for the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to assign data center infrastructure costs to data centers rather than ratepayers.
Background and other details: The statement notes the budget compromise does not direct allocation of costs for more than 200 substations and thousands of miles of transmission lines tied to data center demand; PEC President Chris Miller urges SCC action and references other states (Michigan, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont) that have proposed moratorium legislation on data center growth.

Jun 19, 2026

Episode for June 19, 2026

Governor Shapiro’s office offered to streamline permitting for Amazon.

Governor Shapiro’s office offered to streamline permitting for Amazon: Investigative reporting by Jael Holzman (Heatmap News) examined emails between the Governor’s office and Amazon revealing outreach to court new data centers as public opposition to AI data centers in Pennsylvania has grown. Key entity: Office of Governor Josh Shapiro; reporter: Jael Holzman; action: offer to streamline permitting for Amazon (reported, based on reviewed emails).
Other environmental actions and notices described: the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is accepting public comment on a proposed wastewater discharge permit for the Rustic Ridge coal mine that would allow 2.8M gallons of treated wastewater into a Laurel Highlands trout stream; coverage also highlights the American burying beetle recovery effort, the century-old fire tower wildfire-detection system, and a coalition of conservation groups in Westmoreland County seeking property owners to support monarch butterflies.

Jun 19, 2026

US BESS integrator FlexGen, LDES tech provider Eos enter European market with first deals

FlexGen has announced awards and market entry projects across multiple European markets while Eos has signed a binding master supply agreement for the DACH region and advanced U.S. manufacturing plans.

FlexGen market entry: FlexGen announced it has been awarded projects across the UK, Finland, Sweden and is active in the Nordics, Portugal and Ukraine, deploying its HybridOS EMS and controls/data platform to improve availability, reduce risk and support BESS paired with gas turbines; it is pursuing VDE certification to enter additional EU markets and has local teams in UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Poland to handle commissioning and service.
Eos commercial framework and U.S. manufacturing: Eos signed a binding master supply agreement with CAPAC Energy for Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) through 2031 with a 750 MWh capacity commitment (scalable to 2 GWh); Eos also reported a US$352.9 million planned investment/relocation to Pennsylvania with associated state funding proposals totalling US$22 million (including a US$10 million Pennsylvania First grant and US$12 million via RACP, of which US$3 million was awarded in 2022), and the Thorn Hill manufacturing line will ramp to full production targeted in Q4 2026.

Jun 12, 2026

Episode for June 12, 2026

The Allegheny Front published a June 12, 2026 podcast episode covering local and regional environmental topics including balcony solar, a Ken Burns Thoreau documentary, and community events.

Main coverage: The episode highlights Pennsylvania lawmakers considering legalization of “balcony solar” (small plug-in PV panels that can power a refrigerator or TV), features interviews about Ken Burns’ new Henry David Thoreau documentary (directors Erik and Chris Ewers), and notes the return of Frog Fest; episode date: June 12, 2026 and runtime 28:58.
Additional factual details: The episode references ALCOSAN having spent $750 million of a $4.5 billion sewage-control program, mentions the Trump administration’s $700M package to the coal industry, notes Nippon Steel’s new investment in U.S. Steel’s Pittsburgh-area plants (no dollar amount given in the article), and records Republican candidate Stacy Garrity calling for a pause on data center development to allow local zoning action.

Jun 12, 2026

Garrity lays out plan to ‘unleash’ the commonwealth’s natural gas industry

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced she will order an end to a state ban on new fracking sites on day one of her administration.

Executive order & permitting changes: Garrity said she will sign an executive order on her first day to lift the outdated ban on new drilling sites, call a special session of the General Assembly to fast-track permits, eliminate outdated or duplicative regulations, establish firm timelines for approvals, and reform or eliminate renewable energy and efficiency mandates. She cited current natural gas employment at 120,000, and said her plan could create more than 200,000 jobs and $6 billion in revenue, aiming to address a stated $5 billion hole.
Context and existing limits: The article notes there is no statewide ban but there is a moratorium in state parks and on new leases in state forests, and fracking is prohibited in the Delaware River Watershed by the Delaware River Basin Commission; the Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing a regulation (including a proposed 500-foot setback). The piece also references calls to pause data center development and Governor Josh Shapiro’s GRID Standards that would require data centers to provide their own power and pay grid connection costs.

Jun 10, 2026

Behind-the-meter data center gas plants will raise US energy bills

Energy Innovation authors Jeffrey Rissman and Eric Gimon argue that data centers building on-site natural-gas power plants will raise energy prices for U.S. households and businesses and that policymakers should require data centers to supply their own clean on-site electricity.

Main announcement/action: The authors call for a “bring your own clean energy” mandate so data centers do not rely on on-site natural-gas plants; they cite concrete capacity examples including a Richland Parish, LA facility using ~2.2 GW, a Cheyenne-area project with a 1.8 GW first phase designed to scale to 10 GW, and a BloombergNEF finding that ~100 GW of on-site gas capacity is planned for U.S. data centers. The piece urges that data centers instead deploy wind/solar + batteries and enhanced geothermal to provide firm, fuel-free power.
Background and supporting details: The article documents that combined-cycle gas turbines are back-ordered 5–7 years, forcing use of inefficient turbines that increase pollution (citing an xAI Clean Air Act lawsuit), and describes policy tools to implement the proposal including “permit-by-rule”, pre-authorized renewable zones (Texas CREZ, Nevada Solar Energy Zones, Arizona Renewable Energy Incentive Districts), and mentions state laws that streamline permitting (Michigan HB 5120, Illinois HB 4412). It also gives examples of companies already using clean on-site supply (Google: 1.6 GW wind+solar with 300 MW battery; Amazon: 1.2 GW solar + equal battery storage).

Jun 9, 2026

Inside Shapiro’s effort to court tech companies to build data centers in Pa.

Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Amazon planned to invest at least $20 billion to build data center campuses in Pennsylvania.

Main announcement & immediate details: Governor Shapiro publicly touted an Amazon investment of at least $20 billion and promised more than a thousand high‑paying jobs; public records show the Commonwealth offered Amazon “exclusive early access” to a forthcoming SPEED permitting program (emails dated April 2025) and some communications were labeled “subject to a non-disclosure agreement.”
Context, timelines and policy actions: In 2026 the administration released the GRID Standards (full grid standards press release) proposing requirements that data centers bring their own power or pay for new generation, hire and train local workers, and meet environmental protection standards; the legislature has introduced measures this year to repeal or amend existing data center tax breaks and the Pennsylvania state House has passed two measures on data center regulation. Public records were obtained by a local activist via freedom of information / public records requests.

Jun 9, 2026

From Tail Risk to Design Baseline: How the Grid Is Adapting to Extreme Heat

POWER (Sonal Patel) reports that system planners and grid operators are now treating extreme heat as an assumed operating condition rather than a tail risk.

Main announcement/action: POWER summarizes that system planners and reliability entities (notably NERC and FERC) and operators are treating extreme heat as a design baseline, citing metrics such as EIA projection of ~1,610 CDDs for 2026 (4% above 2025), NERC’s 2026 Summer Reliability Assessment (net internal demand up 1.3% to 790 GW, and >58 GW of new on-peak capacity including 16.4 GW solar, 14.7 GW batteries, 6.7 GW natural gas, 1.6 GW wind), and FERC’s forecast of $46.81/MWh average wholesale price for summer 2026. The piece catalogues operational changes (hourly ambient-adjusted transmission ratings, dynamic line ratings pilots, ADMS/DERMS deployments) and emergency interventions (DOE Section 202(c) orders covering roughly 4,400 MW of extended capacity service).
Background and details: The article documents drought risks (FERC: 62% of continental U.S. impacted; Lake Powell inflow forecast at 13% of average), potential loss of up to 4,500 MW of Colorado River hydropower as soon as August 2026, rapid data center load growth (from 44 GW in 2025 to 55 GW in 2026, ~25%), and operational timelines (PJM implemented AAR on March 4, 2026; SPP expects AAR by Sept. 1, 2026; MISO full compliance by Q2 2028).

Jun 8, 2026

Data center news: Detroit takes responsible approach to data centers, Benson says

Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson announced the council-approved moratorium resolution to build a stronger regulatory framework for data center development in Detroit.

Main announcement: The council-approved moratorium resolution created a stakeholder group (labor, business, sustainability advocates) to draft a zoning ordinance by end of 2026; Benson emphasized no increase in utility bills for residents and community-driven local control for development.
Additional details/background:GOP state Sen. Jim Runestad introduced bills for a one-year statewide moratorium (may not receive a committee hearing); Erin Brockovich launched a national interactive tracking map for operational/under-construction/proposed facilities; Google granted $250,000 to the Huron River Watershed Council while planning a 1.5-million-square-foot Michigan data center that will draw 2–3.65 million gallons daily from the Great Lakes Water Authority.

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