Data Center Signal is tracking 20 clips about PPL data center developments across 2 states, including PA, KY.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is intervening in a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission case involving PPL’s electricity rates. Shapiro and the Consumer Advocate Office are urging the commission to create a separate rate class so data centers pay the costs they impose on PPL’s electric grid instead of shifting those costs to other customers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking to protect electricity customers from costs and reliability risks associated with large data centers. The petition supports a complaint by the Office of Consumer Advocate and calls for PPL to create a separate customer class for data centers and assign them responsibility for related grid costs.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is seeking to join a case involving PPL over concerns that data center development could increase electricity costs for other customers. The dispute focuses on how the costs associated with serving data centers may affect utility ratepayers.
Industrial electricity use in PPL Electric Utilities' Pennsylvania service territory is projected to surge by 51% annually through 2030, driven primarily by data center development. PPL is planning a 31.8 GW data center pipeline, with a joint venture, Invitium Energy, securing land and interconnection requests. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has issued guidance on tariffs for large-load customers to ensure they fund necessary infrastructure, addressing concerns about costs shifting to existing consumers.
Allentown officials are facing pressure, including a potential legal challenge, from developer Quantm LLC for quick approval of its proposed data center. Neighbors and a local non-profit are opposing the project and have filed a legal challenge against the city's zoning determination. The city planning commission is still reviewing the application, and Quantm LLC has also filed a curative amendment request challenging the city's zoning ordinance.
A new proposal by PPL for a transmission line is introducing an additional complication to the existing dispute over a data center development in Gregg Township, Pennsylvania. This development suggests an escalation in the ongoing local opposition to the data center project.
Several Kentucky utilities, including Kentucky Power, LG&E, KU, Duke Energy, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, and Big Rivers Electric Corporation, have signed President Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge. Critics like the Sierra Club argue the pledge is insufficient without proper cost-allocation studies by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Residents in Hancock County have already voiced concerns about rising electricity costs due to proposed data center projects.
PPL, a major utility company, has signed a pledge to safeguard consumers from potential increases in electric bills. This initiative is a direct response to concerns regarding rising electricity demand from data centers and its impact on energy costs for residents. The pledge aims to ensure that the growing data center industry does not lead to financial burden for consumers in PPL's service areas.
PPL Electric Utilities is pursuing eminent domain against over 30 property owners in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to build a 500-kilovolt transmission line. Residents are opposing this move, fearing property devaluation and health risks, especially as the line is intended to support energy-hungry data centers on Governor Shapiro's "Fast Track" list. One data center project, "Project Hazelnut," has already faced local rejection and an ongoing appeal.
Nebius AI presented plans for a six-building, 600-acre data center in Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The company addressed concerns about power and water usage, proposing an agreement with PPL for 1.2 gigawatts and closed-loop cooling systems. An open house for the project is scheduled for August 6th.
Residents in Gregg Township, Pennsylvania, are now opposing a new PPL transmission line proposal, in addition to their ongoing fight against a PNK Group data center. The proposed transmission lines, extending across Lycoming and Union counties, are described by PPL as necessary for "growing energy needs" and "new customer facilities," which residents suspect is for the data center. Opponents are concerned about the environmental impact, infrastructure expansion, and potential public subsidization of the project.
Farmers in Union and Lycoming counties, Pennsylvania, are expressing strong concerns over a proposed PPL power line transmission project intended to power a new data center by the PNK Group in Allenwood. They fear the power lines will negatively impact their farmland through soil compaction and are worried about potential eminent domain. Farmers have attended meetings to voice their opposition and advocate for reforms.
Kentucky residents, particularly in Mercer County, are expressing strong opposition to the proliferation of data centers, citing concerns over environmental impact, job creation, and lack of transparency. Congressman Andy Barr is criticized for securing federal funding for a hyperscale data center in Mercer County and his ties to the tech industry. Local officials in Burgin have cancelled meetings to discuss a related annexation ordinance amidst calls for a moratorium.
PPL customers in Pennsylvania will face increased electricity rates starting July 1, despite a new settlement introducing tariffs for large-load customers like data centers. This settlement aims to shift more of the grid connection and infrastructure costs directly to data centers and other high-demand users, reducing the burden on residential customers. The rate hike is PPL's first in a decade and is expected to generate an additional $275 million in revenue for infrastructure.
Residents in Gregg Township, Pennsylvania, are opposing a proposed data center by PNK Group, which is now complicated by PPL's plan to construct nine miles of 230,000-volt transmission lines across Lycoming and Union counties. Locals believe the new lines are intended to power the data center and are concerned about environmental impacts, the project's extended footprint, and potential public subsidization of infrastructure for a private development. The transmission line construction is pending approval from the Pa. Public Utility Commission and is slated for 2027-2029.
Residents in Scott Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, are raising concerns about PPL's proposed Archibald Mountain project, which includes a new power substation and 8 miles of transmission lines. They connect this project directly to the six proposed data center campuses in Archibald and fear its impact. PPL maintains the lines are necessary for grid reliability and to connect new customers, with data centers directly funding their required infrastructure.
PPL is proposing a new substation and 8 miles of power lines in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, to support the existing grid and new customers, including six proposed data center campuses in Archibald. Local residents are actively opposing these plans, linking the utility infrastructure directly to the unwanted data center development. They view this as an ongoing battle against the projects.
Residents of Lower Mount Bethel Township expressed strong opposition to a proposed 1.2 gigawatt, $5.5 billion data center at a town hall meeting. Despite developers' promises of economic benefits, residents raised significant concerns regarding energy consumption, environmental impact, water usage, noise pollution, and potential zoning changes. Developers plan to submit proposals for amendments to the industrial zone to permit data centers.
A potential settlement involving PPL is being discussed, which aims to address the impact of data centers on ratepayers. The effectiveness of this possible agreement in truly benefiting ratepayers is currently being questioned. The details of the settlement and its implementation are unclear.
Middlesex Township supervisors approved a plan to build a PPL substation on part of a 700-acre property that is being developed into a $15 billion data center project.