Pennsylvania Data Center News

Nov 4, 2025

Constellation Offers Maryland a Menu of New Generation Options to Meet Rising Demand, Including 5,800 Megawatts of New Power Generation and Battery Storage

Constellation Energy Corporation has proposed a long-range plan to invest in up to 5,800 megawatts of power generation and battery storage in Maryland.

Main announcement/action: Constellation submitted proposals to the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) and offered a menu of options including >1,500 MW near-term fast-track projects (up to 800 MW battery storage, >700 MW of existing gas-fired generation in six units, and 350+ MW of extended-use existing plants) and up to 4,000 MW of new and existing nuclear projects (including relicensing Calvert Cliffs for 20 years to preserve nearly ~2,000 MW, a 10% uprate/190 MW potential, and exploring 2,000 MW of new advanced nuclear). The company submitted battery and gas proposals to the PSC on October 31 as part of a state fast-track permitting program.
Background and additional details: Constellation says it has invested over $1 billion in Maryland wind, hydro and nuclear to date and cites a historic agreement to extend the Conowingo Dam life while investing $340 million for wildlife/ watershed preservation. The plan includes using AI to build a 1,000 MW “virtual power plant”, states Constellation will bear 100% of investment risk, will not seek electricity rate increases, and requests enabling legislation plus faster grid connections; the proposal is framed within the PJM competitive market and linked stakeholder policy proposals.

Oct 30, 2025

Comment: Is Nuclear Energy the Partner to Power a Global AI Future?

Microsoft signed a deal to restart Three Mile Island’s nuclear reactor to power AI workloads.

Main announcement and immediate context: Microsoft agreed to restart Three Mile Island’s reactor to supply power for AI; Amazon and Google have signed similar agreements with nuclear developers. In 2024, nuclear plants supplied 2,667 TWh, avoiding over two billion tons of CO2, and the World Nuclear Association estimates current global nuclear capacity of 398 GW must at least triple by 2050 to meet projected demand.
Background, supporting facts and near-term actions: The IEA projects global electricity demand could increase sixfold by 2050 driven by continuous AI workloads; nuclear capacity factors average ~90% in North America making it suitable for data centers. The industry cites a pipeline of 100+ reactors in the West as necessary for scale; 31 governments, 14 major banks, and 15 major energy users (including Amazon, Google, Dow) support tripling capacity, and the World Bank has removed a ban on funding nuclear projects.
Event referenced:
- 50th World Nuclear Symposium — when: September (as stated in text); agenda items cited: investor appetite for nuclear, participation from financial institutions, energy users, and working sessions to resolve cross-sector obstacles.

Oct 29, 2025 · Tech Xplore

Amid renewable-energy boom, study explores options for electricity market

Penn State researchers and Resources for the Future published a review of 11 wholesale electricity market design proposals to address reliability challenges as renewable generation grows in the U.S.

Study announcement and scope: The paper (published in Energy Economics) reviews 11 market proposals organized into five categories ranging from modest modifications to complete overhauls; it evaluates affordability, efficiency, and energy adequacy and highlights options such as mandatory forward contracts, long-term contract auctions, and combined long- and short-term markets. The article cites projected electricity demand growth of 25% by 2030 and 78% by 2050, and references past reliability events (e.g., February 2021 Texas failure leaving over 4.5 million homes without power, California rolling outages in 2020 and near-blackouts in 2022) as motivating factors.
Background and contributors: The authors note that current market structures were designed in the late 1990s around thermal and nuclear generation and are not well suited for high shares of renewables and storage; the paper calls for clearer regulatory oversight and better researcher communication. Key contributors named are Chiara Lo Prete (lead/quoted researcher), and RFF colleagues Karen Palmer and Molly Robertson; the article was published 29 October 2025 and cites the paper DOI 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108640.

Oct 29, 2025

Beyond compute: Infrastructure that powers and cools AI data centers

McKinsey & Company projects AI-driven demand for data centers and the related capital and design implications.

Main announcement/action: McKinsey & Company reports that AI-driven demand will expand data center capacity to 220 gigawatts by 2030 (a CAGR of 22%) and estimates $6.7 trillion in cumulative capital outlays worldwide by 2030 to meet compute demand; the report focuses on advances in power and cooling equipment and the need for codesigned systems.
Background and details: The article emphasizes that power, cooling, and IT components must be codesigned, highlights opportunities for equipment manufacturers to pursue vertical integration and provide end-to-end services (repair, maintenance, commissioning), and notes time to market as a key buying preference for data center operators.

Oct 28, 2025

Data Centers Are Turning to Gas Generators for Prime Power to Eliminate Long Lead Times for Grid Connections

Data center developers and equipment suppliers are increasingly using natural gas generator sets and packaged generator solutions as near-term prime power to meet rapid AI-driven compute demand.

Main announcement/action: Data center developers (notably Joule Capital Partners with Caterpillar and CAT dealer Wheeler Machinery) are deploying natural gas gensets as prime power at large campuses (Millard County, Utah up to 4 GW planned) with fleets of Caterpillar G3520K (2.5 MW each) and >1 GWh battery storage; the Wonder Valley, Alberta project will use onsite natural gas to power an 8-GW data center with the first 1.5 GW scheduled for completion by 2027. Lead times for utility power can be three to seven years, prompting BYOP (bring your own power) and rapid delivery advantages for gas packages.
Background and supporting details:Global Market Insights (GMI) valued the global gas generator market at $6.9 billion in 2024, projecting 8.8% CAGR to $16 billion by 2034, with >330 kVA and >750 kVA segments growing fastest; Fidelity Manufacturing expanded staffing from 40 to >500 and opened a second 86,000 sq ft factory (additional 25,000 sq ft production and warehouse planned) to meet data-center-driven demand. Typical large gas engines available up to ~2.5 MW; custom packaged features, ASCE/SEI and local codes, and OSHA/IBC-compliant access (aluminum framing, anti-slip surfaces) are emphasized. Lead times for larger packaged deliveries can be up to one year or more.

Oct 27, 2025

Google Has Deal With NextEra to Restart Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant

NextEra Energy announced Google has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement that enables NextEra to restart the 615-MW Duane Arnold Energy Center and NextEra has agreed to acquire CIPCO and Corn Belt’s combined 30% interest to become the plant’s sole owner.

Main announcement: NextEra and Google signed a 25-year PPA for power from the 615-MW Duane Arnold Energy Center; NextEra said the contract “enables the investment to restart the plant and covers costs for the production of energy from Duane Arnold.” NextEra expects the plant could be operational as soon as early 2029, and CIPCO will buy output under the same contract terms as Google.
Background and details: NextEra agreed to acquire Central Iowa Power Cooperative and Corn Belt Power Cooperative’s combined 30% interest to assume full ownership; Google noted a recent $7-billion investment in Iowa and said the restart supports its cloud and AI infrastructure in the state. NextEra stated it is coordinating with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and local authorities and has nearly 3 GW of projects executed with Google nationwide.

Oct 24, 2025 · RMI

PJM’s Speed to Power Problem and How to Fix It

RMI authors call on PJM to prioritize speeding interconnection so queued generators can compete and reduce soaring capacity costs.

Main action: RMI urges PJM to speed interconnection to allow queued resources to enter the market sooner; key facts: average interconnection timeline >8 years (2025) vs. 1-year expert target, capacity price spike from $29/MW-day to $330/MW-day, and total capacity bill increase from $2.2B to $16.1B (latest auction). These delays forced customers to pay an additional $13.9B to existing generators.
Background and details: PJM completed TC1 in 544 days; over 100 GW applied to TC1 and ~40 GW were studied in the first phase (article notes XX received agreements); FERC granted a 540-day independent entity variation; TC1 network upgrade costs average ~$309k/MW (far above NREL and DOE benchmarks). RMI recommends software deployment, ERIS reform, advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), and proactive transmission planning with concrete references to Pearl Street, Nira Energy, GridAstra, Quanta and related studies.

Oct 16, 2025

Pennsylvania’s $70 Billion Race for America’s Data Centers

Pennsylvania has announced an ambitious $70 billion state-led initiative to attract major AI data center investments and related infrastructure upgrades, unveiled in July at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University.

Main announcement and projects:$70 billion initiative announced in July at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit (Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh). Key commitments include $25 billion Aliquippa steel mill redevelopment (Blackstone; joint venture with PPL Corp. on power generation), CoreWeave $6 billion for up to 300 MW in Lancaster, Energy Capital Partners $5 billion at York II Energy Center, PA Data Center Partners & Powerhouse $15 billion three-campus hub near Carlisle with 1.3 GW capacity, and Google/Brookfield 20-year repowering deal for Safe Harbor and Holtwood hydropower totaling 670 MW. The plan also includes workforce development via the Energy Innovation Center Infrastructure Academy and Meta’s $2.5 million investment to CMU’s Schwartz Center for Entrepreneurship.
Background and implementation details: The plan is state-coordinated and privately funded (not federally backed like the CHIPS Act). It focuses primarily on power delivery and grid enhancements (rather than direct data center construction), leveraging Pennsylvania’s status as the 2nd-largest U.S. natural gas producer and a major coal producer. The Google-Brookfield arrangement is a 20-year repowering commitment; other projects are announced as multi-billion-dollar investments without explicit completion timelines. Industry sources quoted include Forrester Research (Alvin Nguyen), DVM Power + Control (Bob Ricci), and DataBank (Joe Minarik).

Oct 8, 2025

EPA Extends Steam-Electric Wastewater Deadlines to 2034, Citing Grid Reliability and Rising Power Demand

The U.S. EPA proposed and issued a companion direct final rule to extend seven compliance deadlines in the 2024 Steam Electric Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs), moving several zero-discharge deadlines and adjusting NOPP timelines to address grid reliability concerns.

Main action: The EPA published a proposed rule (Federal Register entry Oct. 2, 2025) and a companion direct final rule to extend seven ELG compliance deadlines: it would push zero-discharge deadlines for FGD wastewater, bottom-ash transport water, and coal combustion residual (CCR) leachate from Dec. 2029 to Dec. 31, 2034, and extend the Notice of Planned Participation (NOPP) filing deadline for permanent coal cessation to Dec. 31, 2031; the direct final rule would take effect 60 days after publication unless adverse comments prompt withdrawal.
Background & implementation details: The agency tied the change to grid reliability and rising power demand, cited petitions from Edison Electric Institute, Utility Water Act Group, and America’s Power, and requested detailed pilot- and full-scale data (thermal evaporation, crystallization, membrane-filtration) plus engineering cost estimates, firm bids, and vendor quotes to inform any future BAT reconsideration; the EPA is accepting public comments through Nov. 3 and projected up to $200 million in annualized electricity cost savings once finalized.

Oct 8, 2025

Eaton Begins Production at Newly Expanded Texas Manufacturing Facility, Helping Utilities Accelerate Critical Grid Modernization Projects

Eaton announced the completion of a $100 million expansion at its Nacogdoches, Texas manufacturing facility.

Main action: Eaton completed a $100 million expansion project (launched in 2023) that added 200,000-square-feet to its Nacogdoches facility, more than doubling U.S. production capacity for voltage regulators and three-phase transformers; Oncor will receive the first shipment from the new production lines.
Background and details: Since 2023 Eaton has invested more than $1 billion in North American manufacturing, reported revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, and positions the expanded capacity to serve domestic and global customers to support grid modernization and electrification efforts.

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