By a 5-0 vote, the Public Utility Commission has authorized a review and updating of Pennsylvania’s electricity interconnection regulations, incorporating the new demands of high load energy users such as data centers.
Among the major issues the proposed rulemaking is expected to explore are the growth of battery storage and other emerging technologies, new interconnection standards that address changing grid demands, new state regulations in light of grid supplier PJM’s effort to update its interconnection policies, and “clear interconnection rules” to clarify for consumers and businesses how to plan their electricity usage strategy.
Pennsylvania’s current interconnection regulations were adopted in 2006. The update will be developed by the PUC’s Law Bureau in consultation with the Bureau of Technical Utility Services.
Homer-Center Redevelopment is in the process of building the world’s largest natural gas power plant, which will connect to the PJM grid. The plan is to develop a campus that will house data centers.
On Monday’s Indiana In the Morning on WCCS, Springdale Borough Manager Terry Carcella will discuss that municipality’s approval last week of an application to build an AI data center in the borough. Carcella is a Homer City native.
