Report identifies 43 proposed power plants linked to data center growth across northeastern Pennsylvania
An environmental report says Pennsylvania could add 4.4 gigawatts of natural-gas power capacity by 2030, partly driven by rising data center demand. A separate database identifies 43 proposed power plants across northeastern and central Pennsylvania, while PennEnvironment is calling for a moratorium on new data centers over pollution and climate concerns.
A PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group report projects that Pennsylvania could add 4.4 gigawatts of natural-gas generation capacity by the end of 2030. The groups identify data center growth as a major factor behind the proposed expansion.
A Track Data Centers database provided to FOX56 lists 43 proposed power plants across the station’s coverage area, including 15 in Lackawanna County and nine in Luzerne County. The listed projects represent nearly 12.4 gigawatts of capacity where figures were available, although the listings may differ in scope and timing from the statewide projection.
PennEnvironment is advocating a moratorium on new data centers, warning that additional gas plants could increase air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions for decades. The report’s recommendations reflect the organization’s environmental advocacy position.