Pennsylvania data centers linked to proposed natural gas power plants, report says
A new report indicates that data center developers in Pennsylvania plan to rely on seven new natural gas-fired power plants, which would emit significant climate-warming gases. This comes as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill to permit virtual power plants and introduced legislation for plug-in solar. Nationwide, clean energy sources are rapidly expanding.
A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project indicates that data center developers in Pennsylvania would rely on seven new natural gas-fired power plants. These proposed plants are projected to emit 68 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, an amount of climate-warming gases comparable to adding 14 million cars to the road each year.
The article also highlights broader trends in energy. Nationally, 96% of new power generation capacity added in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2026 came from clean sources, primarily solar and battery storage, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. In a historic development, solar power surpassed coal in May, supplying 12.8% of America's electricity compared to coal's 12.2%.
In Pennsylvania, the House of Representatives recently passed a bill to permit virtual power plants, which would integrate household technologies like smart thermostats and electric vehicles into a coordinated network to manage energy demand and feed power back into the grid during peak times. This legislation now moves to the Senate. Additionally, a bill advocating for plug-in solar technology has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House, garnering 36 co-sponsors.