Friday PA Environment & Energy Articles - NewsClips: 3.13.26

This article from the PA Environment Digest Blog covers a range of news items related to energy and environmental issues in Pennsylvania. One notable item is the Susquehanna River Basin Commission's approval of a water withdrawal request, including an increase for Amazon's data center in Luzerne County. This highlights ongoing concerns about the water usage demands of data centers in the state. The article also mentions upcoming House Energy Committee hearings, including one on establishing a regulatory framework for geothermal energy and another on advanced transmission technologies and virtual power plants. These developments suggest the state legislature is actively considering energy policy issues. Additionally, the piece touches on concerns about the impact of AI data centers on Pennsylvania's power grid and electricity rates. A Republican candidate for the state House called for a temporary moratorium on data center development, citing the need for a state plan to manage their demands. The article notes analysis finding that the data center boom could result in a $2 billion tax revenue loss for the state. Overall, the article provides a snapshot of the various energy and environmental topics being debated in Pennsylvania, from data center development to utility regulations and renewable energy.