Environmental advocates, Indiana County residents voice concerns on natural gas pipeline proposed for Homer City data center project

Environmental advocates and residents of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, gathered at the Indiana Theater to express their concerns to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about a proposed natural gas pipeline. The pipeline is designed to fuel a 4.5-gigawatt power plant, which will in turn power a large-scale data center project near Homer City. The $10 billion development, spearheaded by Homer City Redevelopment and with construction by Nebraska-based Kiewit Power Constructors Co., was announced in April 2025 and began construction last month, with power production expected by 2028. Key concerns voiced at the hearing focused on environmental impacts, particularly the potential for water pollution. Residents highlighted that the 5.8-mile pipeline, requiring multiple crossings of streams, floodways, and wetlands, could negatively affect local waterways like Muddy Run and and Blacklick Creek. Dana Driscoll, an Indiana County farmer, emphasized fears of contaminating water sources during increasing drought conditions, while Jane Kaminski, another farmer, worried about reversing decades of progress in remediating acid mine drainage in the region. Leigh Hendrix, representing Concerned Residents of Western Pa., criticized the project's rapid progression and perceived lack of public transparency. Other residents, like Armstrong County's Sally Simpson and Indiana County native Jennica Giroux, shared personal stories and concerns about the project's long-term effects on community quality of life and the environment, potentially deterring future generations from settling in the area. The DEP indicated the project was designed to minimize impacts, but residents remain unconvinced.