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Pennsylvania Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Pennsylvania — updated daily.
Pennsylvania · Construction & power moves · 3
full tracker →Land, power, and interconnection moves across Pennsylvania — each traced to primary filings.
Recent Pennsylvania data center news
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GE Vernova Adding 250 New Jobs as Part of Pennsylvania Factory Expansion to Manufacture More Critical Grid Technologies
GE Vernova is announcing a multi-factory investment and hiring plan in Pennsylvania.
- Main announcement: GE Vernova will invest up to $100 million in Pennsylvania over the next two years, adding approximately 700 new jobs across multiple factories, including 250 new jobs in Charleroi, PA at its Grid Solutions factory to manufacture high voltage switchgear; this investment is part of a larger $9 billion global capex and R&D plan through 2028.
- Background and deal details: GE Vernova has secured a full order for seven 7HA.02 gas turbines for the Homer City Energy Campus (previously announced as slot reservations on April 2, 2025, moved to a secured order in 3Q25); Homer City is expected to provide up to 4.4 GW and be completed in 2027, and the Charleroi expansion builds on a $600 million multi-year U.S. manufacturing investment announced in January (originally expected to create 1,500 jobs).
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Confronting the AI/energy conundrum
The MIT Energy Initiative held a symposium addressing the rapid growth of AI-powered computing centers and their significant electricity demand, alongside AI’s potential to aid the clean energy transition.
- AI computing centers currently consume about 4% of U.S. electricity, potentially rising to 12-15% by 2030, with power needs doubling every three months for large AI models; clean energy solutions discussed include renewables, long-duration storage, small modular reactors, and nuclear power (e.g., Constellation Energy’s restart of Three Mile Island reactor).
- AI applications can optimize power grids and accelerate materials discovery, with examples like Google’s fuel-efficient routing reducing 2.9 million metric tons of GHG emissions; MIT launched a program to tackle AI energy challenges from power sources to algorithms.
This symposium underscores the dual challenge and opportunity of AI’s energy demands, emphasizing integrated research and technology development to balance growth with sustainability goals.
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As AI manufacturing grows, so does the tech's environmental damage
The article reports on the rapid growth of AI hardware manufacturing and its significant increase in electricity consumption, especially in East Asia, driven by new chipmaking facilities. It discusses the environmental impact, including increased reliance on fossil fuels, and highlights potential investments in renewable energy sources by major tech firms. The Greenpeace and IEA reports emphasize concerns over energy sustainability and environmental footprints associated with AI manufacturing and data centers.
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Zeldin outlines EPA priorities under new administration
Lee Zeldin, head of the EPA, outlined his priorities for protecting the environment and promoting energy initiatives on Long Island. He emphasized the administration’s stance against new wind projects, supporting pipelines like the Constitution pipeline for natural gas, and highlighted efforts related to natural gas extraction bans, such as in New York. Zeldin also discussed balancing environmental protection with economic growth, investing in scientific innovation, and addressing pollution and contaminated sites including PFAS. He advocates for energy independence through diverse sources, including nuclear, hydro, and coal, and promotes the development of AI data centers as part of Long Island’s technological and economic growth.
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Liberty Energy to deploy modular gas-fired ‘power blocks’ at Pennsylvania industrial site
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Request for Information on Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure on DOE Lands
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore opportunities for AI infrastructure development on its lands. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance AI capabilities in the U.S. and maintain leadership in the field. The RFI targets industry input on potential development approaches and operational models for AI data centers at select DOE sites, aiming for operational commencement by the end of 2027. Responses to this RFI are due by May 7, 2025.
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Pennsylvania coal-plant to be turned into gas-powered data centre campus
The Homer City Generating Station, previously the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania, will be repurposed into a 4.5GW combined-cycle gas plant. Developed by Homer City Development (HCD) and constructed by Kiewit Power Constructors Co., the facility is expected to commence operation in 2027, utilizing seven GE Vernova 7HA.02 turbines. The plant will leverage existing transmission lines and natural gas from the Marcellus Shale Region to support hyperscale data centers, indicating a shift in infrastructure use from coal to natural gas for powering AI and cloud computing applications.
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Nation’s Largest Gas-Fired Plant Planned at Former Pennsylvania Coal Plant Site
Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) and Kiewit Power Constructors have announced the redevelopment of the former Homer City Generating Station site into a $10 billion natural gas-fired facility. This campus is expected to have a power generation capacity of 4.5 GW, making it the largest gas-fired power station in the U.S. Construction at the site is expected to start in 2025. The project aims to utilize natural gas from the Marcellus Shale and is part of Pennsylvania’s efforts to phase out coal-fired power by 2028.
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Homer City Redevelopment and Kiewit announce country’s largest natural gas-powered data center campus to support AI and HPC demand
Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. announced the transformation of the former Homer City Generating Station into a natural gas-powered data center campus spanning over 3,200 acres. This facility, projected to generate up to 4.5 GW of energy via seven GE Vernova turbines, represents the largest capital investment in Pennsylvania’s history. The first turbine deliveries are anticipated to commence in 2026, aiming to support the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC).
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Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Public Utility Commission Sets Hearing on AI Data Centers’ Impacts on Electricity
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced a hearing on April 24, 2025, to evaluate the impact of AI data centers on the state’s electricity infrastructure and economy. PUC Chairperson Stephen DeFrank emphasized the need to protect consumers while facilitating economic growth and technological advancement. The commission will investigate two major data center projects: Constellation Energy’s $1.6 billion restart of its nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island to provide carbon-free electricity for Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services’ $650 million data center purchase near a nuclear plant that will consume energy equivalent to 900,000 homes.