The PA Senate Republican Policy Committee is scheduled to hold an August 11 hearing on A.I. data center development at the Valley View High School Auditorium, 1 Columbus Drive in Archbald, Lackawanna County starting at 1:00 p.m.

The hearing was requested by Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-Lackawanna) and will be chaired by Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill).

“This hearing provides a critical opportunity for local government, state officials, and the public to come together and explore the facts surrounding data center development,” said Sen. Brown. “As this issue continues to spark strong opinions and concerns, it’s more important than ever that we engage in informed, constructive dialogue based on reliable information.

“At my request, the Senate Policy Committee is convening this hearing in my district so we can better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with this rapidly evolving industry and ensure that any decisions made are in the best interest of our residents,” Sen. Brown added.

“Locating data centers in northeast Pennsylvania could improve our economy, however we must ensure that our local communities are protected from any harmful side effects,” said Sen. Argall. “I look forward to learning more about this important issue.”

Panelists will include local officials, business and labor interests, the energy sector, conservationists, and economic developers.

The public roundtable will be livestreamed on the Senate Majority Policy Committee’s website.

Click Here for the Committee announcement.

Resource Links:

-- Guest Essay: Rewriting The Energy Story — Together - By Stephen M. DeFrank, Chairman, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission  [PaEN]

-- PUC: Brace For Higher Electric Bills As A Result Of Soaring Power Use; Consumers Should Review Energy Options  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: PA PUC Developing Model Tariff For A.I. Data Centers To Ensure PA Consumers Don’t Foot The Bill

-- PJM Electricity Capacity Auction Bids For 134,311 MW Come It At Highest Price Allowed Under FERC-Approved Cap  [PaEN] 

-- Citizens Voice: Debate Over Rumored A.I. Data Center Draws Large Crowd In Dorrance Twp., Luzerne County

-- WNEP: Covington Township Residents Oppose Development Of Proposed A.I. Data Center In Lackawanna County

-- Scranton Times: Archbald, Jessup Work Toward A.I. Data Center Zoning As Developers Target Towns

-- Spotlight PA: Why Pennsylvanians May See Higher  Electric Bills This Summer And Next [PJM Auction, A.I. Data Center Power Demands]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Who Pays The Price For New A.I. Data Centers? - By Destinie Nock, Carnegie Mellon University Professor, Founder Of Peoples Energy Analytics

-- TribLive Guest Essay: A.I., Cryptocurrency And PA’s War On The Little Guy - By Joe Morinville, Energy Independent Solutions

-- Guest Essay: Three Proposals To Protect Consumers From A.I. Price Increases: Bring Your Own Generation; Data Centers Must Pay Their Fair Share; An 'All Of The Above' Energy Future, Including Renewables - By Kevin Walker, CEO, Duquesne Light  [PaEN]

-- ABC27: Sen. Muth Seeks To Protect Pennsylvanians From A.I. Data Center-Fueled Rate Hikes

-- What The A.I. Data Center & Energy Summit Missed: Exploding Electricity Demand Already Raising Prices - Ratepayers Need Protection; No Longer An ‘All Of The Above’ Energy Strategy [PaEN] 

-- What The A.I. Data Center & Energy Summit Missed: It’s Deja Vu - False Promises, Dirty Power - Our People And Communities Deserve Respect  [PaEN]

-- 42 Organizations Call On DEP For More Transparency On Proposed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- Guest Essay: Paying The Price For Natural Gas And A.I. Data Centers - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pennsylvania May Not Have Enough Electricity For A.I. Data Centers And The Rest Of Us - By Shaliee Kishore and Arindam Banerjee, Lehigh University [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: We At PJM Need Realistic Solutions, Not Politics To Take On Energy Challenges - By Aftab Khan, PJM Executive Vice President Of Operations, Planning and Security  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: Al’s Quick Stop Convenience Store Developer Proposes A.I. Data Centers In Blakely, Lackawanna County; Q/A With Developer Aug. 13  [PDF of Article]

-- Bitfarms Announces Partnership To Develop A.I. Data Center At Panther Creek Waste Coal-Fired Power Plant In Carbon County  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Releases National A.I. Data Centers Tracker; Public Invited To Submit Information  [PaEN]

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA: The Harms And Impacts Of PA’s New A.I. Data Center Hype

-- PA Senate Republican Policy Committee To Hold Aug. 11 Hearing On A.I. Data Center Development In Lackawanna County  [PaEN]

-- PA House Environmental Committee To Hold Aug. 11 Hearing On How PA Should Subsidize The Remediation Of Waste Coal Piles  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro, DEP Secretary Shirley Highlight Work To Speed Up Permitting At Future Amazon A.I. Data Center Site In Bucks County  [Video/Photos]

-- Courier Times: Gov. Shapiro, Officials Tout Thousands Of Bucks County Construction Jobs With Ex-US Steel Site For A.I. Data Centers

-- House Members To Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Advance Geothermal Energy Development  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- AP - Marc Levy: As Electric Bills Rise, Evidence Mounts That A.I. Data Centers Share The Blame, States Feel Pressure To Act  [PA Included]

-- MCall: As Electric Bills Rise Due To A.I. Data Center Demand, PJM Electricity Auction, What Lehigh Valley Utilities Say To Expect [PPL - Last 2 PJM Auctions Have Increased Monthly Bills $20 With No Benefit To Customers]  [PDF of Article]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: The Price Of A.I. - How Is A.I. Impacting Energy Production And Prices?

-- Inside Climate News: Why Electricity Prices Are Soaring In The PJM Grid Region Explained In 5 Charts

-- Scranton Times: State Senate To Hold A.I. Data Center Hearing At Valley View High School

-- Scranton Times: Proposed State Senate Bill To Fast Track Data Centers, Limit Local Zoning  [Senate Bill 939]   [PDF of Article]

-- ReedSmith Law Firm: The A.I. Data Center Surge In PA - Legislative Initiatives

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA: The Harms And Impacts Of PA’s New A.I. Data Center Hype

-- Financial Times Visual Story: Inside The Relentless Race For A.I. Capacity; Critics Question The Cost, Environmental Impact And Whether It’s All Needed

-- Scranton Times: Al’s Quick Stop Convenience Store Developer Proposes A.I. Data Centers In Blakely, Lackawanna County; Q/A With Developer Aug. 13  [PDF of Article]

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: $15 Billion A.I. Data Center Project In Cumberland County To Get First Plan Review Monday, Aug. 11

-- TribLive: Residents See 1st Glimpse Of Massive 180 MW A.I. Data Center In Springdale, Allegheny County

-- KDKA: Former Site Of Springdale Coal-Fired Power Plant Could Become A.I. Data Center

-- TribLive: Springdale A.I. Data Center Could Be One Of Many In Region

-- TribLive: A.I. Data Center Tenant Could Be Announced At New TECfusions Upper Burrell Site Within Weeks In Westmoreland County

-- LancasterOnline: A.I. Data Center Noise Won’t Be Regulated By Lancaster City Ordinances

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Planning Commission Sets Hearing To Look Into Zoning Approval Decision For A.I. Data Centers 

-- WGAL: NRC Held 2nd Public Meeting On Possible Restart Of Undamaged Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Unit One

-- The Center Square: Public Opinion Ranges From Those Eager For Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Restart To Serve A.I. Data Centers To Those Concerned About Human, Environmental Consequences

-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers And Cryptocurrency Mining Energy Use Needs A Clear Disadvantage - By Karen Elias, Climate Reality  [PDF of Article]

--  Axios: Recently Upgraded Twin Ridges Wind Power Facility In Somerset County Could Help With A.I. Data Center Energy Needs

-- NorthcentralPA.com: A.I. Data Center- Fueled Natural Gas Gold Rush Bubbling In Northcentral PA

-- Altoona Mirror: Pennsylvania Poised For A.I. Data Center Industry Growth  [PDF of Article]

-- Utility Dive: Independent Power Producers Hit Back At Utilities [Like PPL] That Want To Build Their Own Generation Due To PJM Price Surge

-- Post-Gazette: Cryptocurrency Firm Among Dark Money Donors In Race For Pittsburgh Mayor

-- WESA: Health Care Is Embracing A.I.: Some PA Lawmakers Say Guardrails Are Needed

-- Post-Gazette: Cryptocurrency Firm Among Dark Money Donors In Race For Pittsburgh Mayor

-- AP: New Study Sheds Light On ChatGPT’s Alarming Interactions With Teens

-- Financial Times: Inside The A.I Race - Can Data Centres Ever Truly Be Green?

-- Financial Times: US Licenses Nvidia To Export A.I. Chips To China After CEO Meets With President

[Posted: August 4, 2025]  PA Environment Digest

8/11/2025