Data center growth could mean blackouts in coming years, Pa. utility regulators say
New data centers added across the PJM region in one year alone could use more electricity than the entire state of Pennsylvania uses today.
Economy
Federal energy officials praise Duquesne Light efforts to make electric grid more resilient
Duquesne Light Company is preparing to install tens of thousands of smart meters to help identify problems that can lead to outages.
EPA announces rollback of climate pollution rules for power plants
The announcement is the latest in a back-and-forth between Democratic and Republican administrations over whether or not to limit power plants’ greenhouse gas pollution.
A rule change could shrink ‘roadless’ national forest land
The U.S. Forest Service has proposed repealing a rule that prohibits new roads in certain areas of national forests, like in the Allegheny National Forest.
Energy bills driven by data centers threaten Pa. small businesses, report says
Small businesses may end up subsidizing mammoth tech companies’ AI data centers, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Sustainable Business Network.
Gov. Shapiro wants data centers to bring their own power. What’s that mean for prices and pollution?
Environmental advocates and energy analysts are calling on the General Assembly to do more to regulate data centers.
Pennsylvania set to open grant applications for fruit farmers affected by spring freeze
A severe April freeze affected fruit crops in Pennsylvania, causing losses estimated between $150 million and $200 million.
Pa. Gov. Shapiro signs executive order to ‘rein in’ data center development
The order will force data center developers to abide by several rules, including a requirement to obtain a stamp of approval from local officials.
U.S. Steel’s ‘ineffective’ safety procedures led to explosion that killed two, federal chemical safety board concludes
U.S. Steel failed to follow industry guidelines that could have prevented or reduced the severity of the explosion, a federal agency found.
How ICE and a data center turned a small Pittsburgh suburb into a civic battleground
In Springdale, a borough of 3,000 east of Pittsburgh, a year of immigration arrests, data center opposition and confrontations with local officials has fueled a new wave of organizing.
