Natural gas pipeline hearing draws fierce pushback over Homer City data center project

A public hearing held by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in Indiana Borough saw dozens of environmental advocates and Indiana County residents voice strong concerns about a proposed natural gas pipeline. This pipeline is intended to serve a 4.5-gigawatt natural gas-fueled power plant and hyperscale data center project announced by Homer City Redevelopment in April 2025. The $10 billion project, which began construction last month and is expected to be operational by 2028, is being built by Nebraska-based Kiewit Power Constructors Co. and is projected to create thousands of jobs. The proposed 5.8-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline would cross multiple streams, floodways, and wetlands, including Muddy Run and Blacklick Creek. Residents expressed fears that the project would pollute vital water sources, citing past acid mine drainage issues in Blacklick Creek that have taken decades to remedy. Speakers like Dana Driscoll and Jane Kaminski, both farmers in Indiana County, highlighted the vulnerability of local water resources to contamination and expressed frustration over the potential undoing of environmental restoration efforts. Leigh Hendrix, a member of Concerned Residents of Western Pa., criticized the project's rapid pace and lack of transparency, emphasizing the human impact on the community's quality of life. Sally Simpson from Armstrong County shared personal stories of family members affected by environmental hazards, fearing a similar fate for Homer City. Jennica Giroux, co-owner of Mother Earth Farm, worried that the environmental consequences would deter young people from settling in Indiana County, leading to a loss of community appeal.