Pennsylvania Data Center Intel

Recent Pennsylvania data center news

• Jun 30, 2026

  The 250-year history of U.S. energy consumption

  The U.S. Energy Information Administration published an explainer on the 250-year history of U.S. energy consumption.

  • The article summarizes how U.S. energy use shifted from wood in the 18th and 19th centuries to petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, and biofuels by 2025.
  • It notes that in 2025 U.S. total energy use was 96 quads, up 2% from 2024, and that fossil fuels still accounted for 82% of energy consumed.
  • The piece also states that electricity demand is expected to grow faster than any time since 2000 through the end of 2027, mostly because of data centers; it also references EV electricity consumption of 24 billion kWh in 2025.
• Jun 26, 2026

  Episode for June 26, 2026

  The Pennsylvania House has passed a data center ‘pause’ measure and both chambers approved repeal of the commonwealth’s sales tax break on computer equipment for data centers.

  • Main action: The Pennsylvania House and other lawmakers passed measures this week to slow data center development, including approval in both chambers to repeal the sales tax exemption on data center computer equipment and related bills tied to Governor Shapiro’s plan for “responsible” development. Brookville Borough Council separately passed a 180-day moratorium on data center development (a pause that lasts until roughly December) to give the council time to finalize local data center rules.
  • Other reporting and context: The roundup also reports that the Army Corps of Engineers‘ recent dam removal on the Monongahela River caused larger-than-expected water-level drops; researchers are trialing buoys that release an algaecide to fight harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie; environmental groups criticized recent Nippon Steel investments at U.S. Steel plants as “stopgap things to make U.S. Steel profitable in the short term”; and Pittsburgh restaurants are changing recycling, composting and waste systems. All items are presented as news summaries and local reporting rather than a single new joint announcement.
• Jun 26, 2026

  Pa. House passes data center ‘pause’ along with Shapiro’s plan for ‘responsible’ development

  The Pennsylvania House passed three bills this week aimed at regulating data center development and altering tax incentives.

  • Main action: The House approved HB 2496 (allows municipalities a 180-day moratorium on data center applications), HB 2650 (codifies Gov. Shapiro’s GRID Standards and makes the 6% sales and use tax exemption contingent on certification with detailed energy, workforce, community, and water commitments), and HB 2198 (repeals the existing 6% sales tax exemption). All three bills are now pending in the Republican-led Senate.
  • Details / context:HB 2650 requires commitments including $250 million cumulative new investment, 200 prevailing-wage construction jobs, 50 permanent jobs at ≥125% of the statewide average wage within four years, and $1.5 million in annual compensation to full-time employees thereafter; HB 2198 notes the five-year-old exemption is projected to cost the commonwealth $517 million annually by 2030.
• Jun 26, 2026

  Jefferson County borough passes 180-day moratorium on data center development

  Brookville Borough Council has passed a 180-day moratorium on data center development.

  • Moratorium details: The borough council unanimously passed a 180-day moratorium on data center development to give council members until sometime in December to finalize local data center rules and zoning; council members say two prospective data centers were considering Brookville and could use about 2.4 million gallons of water per day from the borough supply.
  • Background and policy context: There is no county-level land use ordinance in Jefferson County, so local municipalities must set zoning; Governor Josh Shapiro has introduced “GRID Standards” for data center water, noise, air pollution, and energy affordability, but developers must meet those standards only to qualify for tax benefits and other state support; reporting by Heatmap News and The Allegheny Front flagged correspondence between the Governor’s office and Amazon amid growing public opposition to AI/data centers.
• Jun 25, 2026

  Virginians’ Electric Bills Are on the Line – and the SCC is Deciding

  Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) urges the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to adopt a “but for” standard so data centers pay for transmission and substation costs they cause rather than shifting them to residential ratepayers.

  • Main action: PEC filed testimony (with expert witness Greg Abbott) in SCC Rider T1 (Case No. PUR-2026-00056) urging adoption of a “but for” allocation standard so that data centers pay for the transmission/substation infrastructure that would not be built “but for” their demand. The filing specifically targets allocation in the annual transmission rate case and requests that the SCC prevent residential customers from subsidizing industry infrastructure.
  • Background & key facts:Dominion Energy reported >70 GW of data center delivery requests (about 233 new substations), with contracted capacity cited at 51 GW and 27 GW committed with in-service dates before 2032; estimated substation costs are $6 billion–$12 billion. Public engagement deadlines in this matter are:
    • Public comment deadline: July 9 (select PUR-2026-00056 on SCC site)
    • Evidentiary hearing: July 14
    • Final order expected: August 1
• 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.