In a hearing convened by state Sens. Gene Yaw (R- Lycoming County) and Pat Stefano (R- Connellsville), the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee heard how the state is preparing to meet growing electricity demand.
Held in Harrisburg, PA, the hearing brought together energy sector leaders, regulators and developers, officials said. Witnesses testified about the strain rising electricity use from data centers and delays in building new power sources is having on the state’s electricity grid.
“This hearing could not be more timely,” Yaw said. “Pennsylvania stands at a critical crossroads. Our electric grid is being tested by the pressures of generation retirements and unprecedented demand growth, particularly from data centers. We must ensure we have the policy tools and infrastructure in place to meet this challenge head-on.”
Legislators heard from Jason Stanek, Director of Governmental Services for PJM Interconnection, the organization that manages the mid-Atlantic power grid; and Stephen DeFrank, Chairman, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC); Glen Thomas of GT Power Group; and executives from Homer City Redevelopment, Constellation and Talen Energy.
Private sector leaders also testified about major infrastructure plans to close the state’s energy supply gap, including Corey Hessen, CEO of Homer City Redevelopment, who discussed $10 billion project to convert the former Homer City coal plant into a natural gas-powered data center campus. A quarter of the power generated on site will be distributed to the PJM grid, Hessen said.
Rising demand is good but needs to have infrastructure built to meet it, Stefano said.
“Reliable energy isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and the alarm bells are ringing,” Stefano said. “Rising electricity demand is a sign of economic growth, driving infrastructure investment and job creation. However, we must ensure that grid stability and reliability keep pace. Just as power producers respond to market signals, ratepayers deserve confidence that there’s a clear, cost-effective path forward that keeps the lights on without breaking the bank.