One of the early concerns about a new natural gas power plant and associated AI data storage centers in Homer City is that the data centers will be able to operate “behind the meter,” meeting their energy demands before the power reaches the PJM grid. It raises questions about the ratio of power sent to the data centers versus that sent to PJM. Even with the massive energy boost of the new plant, will there be enough to meet consumer electricity demand?
Last year’s PJM energy auction prices will kick in this June, with consumer bills expected to rise sharply, and the state accepted a settlement with federal regulators last week that, while capping the next PJM auction, will still bring another steep increase, hitting consumers in the pocketbook again.
The website PaEnergyRatings.com wrote Friday that the Homer City Energy Campus “may need to expand its future power capacity” to feed the grid, and that could mean Homer City Redevelopment might need to acquire even more land than its present 3,200 acres.
The new power plant will provide 4.5 gigawatts of electricity. The old coal-burning power plant, while still the biggest in the nation, was able to generate only 2 gigawatts.
The state PUC last week established a public comment site that gives concerned parties a forum to express their views on “large-load” electric generation and consumption.
LINKS:
https://www.paenergyratings.com/blog/pa-to-build-largest-natural-gas-power-plant-for-data-center/
https://www.puc.pa.gov/filing-resources/issues-laws-regulations/en-banc-hearing-on-interconnection-and-tariffs-for-large-load-customers/
