AGP Executive Report

Grid Reliability: Pennsylvania is among 13 states under a federal emergency order through Oct. 16, as warm weather boosts demand while power plants and transmission lines undergo maintenance. PJM can call on extra generation if needed; officials say the order is precautionary, not a warning of imminent blackouts. Data Center Oversight: Pennsylvania has launched an interactive tracker for data center proposals amid concerns about power, water use and pollution. In Allegheny County, a proposed Springdale campus is entering public review after drawing local opposition. Water Quality: A new report flags “forever chemicals” in surface water statewide, renewing concerns about PFAS pollution. Recycling: An Ebensburg materials recovery facility has secured a multimillion-dollar loan for sorting equipment, expanding capacity and local recycling services.

Power and Pollution: A federal emergency order lets PJM, which serves Pennsylvania, run some power plants beyond normal pollution limits to avert blackouts through Friday. It also permits backup generators at data centers and other large users as a last resort. Wastewater Costs: Harrisburg’s water authority is suing the state over unpaid wastewater fees, saying sewage overflows into the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek during heavy rain. Chesapeake Health: The Bay earned its best-ever C+ report card, but the Lower Susquehanna region lost ground and Lancaster County scored lower. Data Center Oversight: Pennsylvania has launched a public tracker for proposed data center projects amid environmental concerns, as communities weigh the impacts of rapid development. Contaminated Waters: Anglers have been warned not to eat fish from the Wissahickon watershed because of PFAS contamination; Philadelphia also canceled trout stocking there. River in Crisis: A recent report describes the Tioga River as nearly dead, renewing concern over the condition of one of Pennsylvania’s waterways.

Data Center Scrutiny: Pennsylvania has launched an interactive tracker for data-center permits as projects raise environmental concerns. Opposition is growing in rural communities, where residents worry about the effects of large developments. Water Quality: PFAS contamination has prompted a warning not to eat fish from the Wissahickon watershed and the cancellation of Philadelphia-area trout stocking. River Health: A recent report describes the Tioga River as nearly dead, drawing attention to a severe local environmental decline. PFAS Controls: Pennsylvania’s Senate approved a bill to limit PFAS in firefighting foam. Parks and Trails: The state is investing $81 million to improve and expand trails, parks and public lands.

Data Center Oversight: Pennsylvania has launched an interactive tracker for data center permits as concerns grow over the projects’ environmental impacts. Tioga River: A report says the Pennsylvania river is now “all but dead,” raising fresh alarm about its condition. PFAS Warning: Anglers are being told not to eat fish from the Wissahickon watershed because of contamination; Philadelphia trout stocking was canceled. Parks and Trails: Pennsylvania is investing $81 million to improve and expand trails, parks and public lands. State Forests: Pennsylvania marked 1 billion board feet of timber harvested from state forests under its sustainable management program since 2004.

Data Center Watch: Pennsylvania’s DEP has launched a public tracker showing proposed data centers seeking environmental permits, as concerns grow over projects’ demands on electricity, water and nearby communities. DEP Access: New permit and funding tools aim to help residents, businesses and organizations find required approvals and environmental grants. Toxic Waters: Decades of acidic drainage from abandoned coal mines have left a stretch of the Tioga River with virtually no fish or aquatic insects. Fish Advisory: Anglers are warned not to eat PFAS-contaminated fish from the Wissahickon watershed; the pollution also prompted cancellation of Philly trout stocking. Parks and Trails: The state has committed $81 million to improve and expand trails, parks and public lands.

DEP Access: Pennsylvania’s new Permit Navigator helps residents and businesses identify permits, while a Funding Concierge connects them with environmental grants. Flooding: Heavy rain prompted a flood warning for Philadelphia and southeastern Montgomery County, with streams rising after up to 2.5 inches fell. Data Center Pushback: Amazon’s plan for 36 data center buildings at Indiana County’s former Homer City coal plant would rely on a new 4.5-gigawatt gas plant. Across Pennsylvania, residents are challenging projects over their energy, water and land impacts; DEP has also launched a statewide data center permit tracker. Water and Wildlife: Officials warn people not to eat fish from the Wissahickon Creek basin because of PFAS contamination. Federal grants will support Chesapeake watershed restoration, including projects in central Pennsylvania. Land and Health: The state is investing $81 million in parks, trails and public lands, while new reporting says the Trump administration has halted enforcement of tougher coal-mine dust rules as black lung cases surge in Appalachia, including Pennsylvania. Climate Rules: Gov. Josh Shapiro has joined a lawsuit seeking to overturn the EPA’s repeal of a power-plant climate rule.

Storm Threat: Remnants of Isaias are bringing heavy rain, flooding and possible severe storms to Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Data Center Boom: Amazon plans 36 data center buildings at Indiana County’s former Homer City coal plant, powered by a new 4.5-gigawatt gas plant. In Luzerne County, opposition to a proposed 1,300-acre campus and its power line is uniting residents across party lines. PFAS Warning: State officials say fish in the Wissahickon Creek basin have unsafe levels of forever chemicals and have issued a “do not eat” advisory. Watershed Restoration: Federal grants totaling $39 million will support 83 Chesapeake Bay projects, including stream restoration in central Pennsylvania, to improve water quality and habitat. Forest Protection: Schuylkill County’s 1,618-acre Tuscarora State Park has joined the Old-Growth Forest Network, recognizing its rare ecosystems and the benefits its mature trees bring to air and water quality.

Storm Watch: Remnants of Hurricane Isaias were forecast to bring rain and strong gusts to Pennsylvania, with the Laurel Highlands among areas facing possible 40–60 mph winds. Water Safety: Pennsylvania officials warned anglers not to eat fish from the Wissahickon Creek basin after forever chemicals were detected; Philadelphia also canceled trout stocking there. Chemical Controls: The state Senate passed a bipartisan bill to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam. Energy and Development: DEP launched a statewide data-center permit tracker as communities raise concerns about the facilities’ power demands and local impacts. Farm Pressures: State lawmakers heard that Pennsylvania farmers face rising costs, labor shortages, disease concerns and severe-weather losses. Pollution and Health: A Pennsylvania researcher’s mapping tool shows elevated cancer rates in some small communities near fracking sites and industrial facilities; the findings are intended to flag areas for closer study.

PFAS Contamination: DEP warned people not to eat fish from the Wissahickon watershed after PFOS was found in fish tissue; the advisory also prompted cancellation of Philly trout stocking. Firefighting Foam: The state Senate passed a bill to restrict PFAS-containing firefighting foam starting in 2027, aiming to protect water, soil and firefighters. Farms and Weather: At a Senate hearing, Pennsylvania agriculture officials cited severe weather, rising costs, labor shortages and animal disease among farmers’ growing challenges. Land Use: A developer renewed its bid to build warehouses on nearly 800 acres zoned for environmental conservation in Throop, drawing resident opposition. Across the state, data center proposals face growing scrutiny, and DEP has launched a permit tracker. River Protection: Susquehanna Riverkeeper Ted Evgeniadis and volunteers are testing for bacteria to pinpoint pollution, runoff and overflow in the watershed.

PFAS Warning: Pennsylvania DEP issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all fish in the Wissahickon Creek basin after finding PFOS above the state limit. Officials have not identified the pollution source and say they will keep testing. Conservation Land: A DeNaples-affiliated company and Core5 are again seeking zoning changes to build warehouses on nearly 787 acres of Throop land zoned for environmental conservation, drawing local opposition. Data Center Watch: DEP’s new permit tracker shows proposed projects and their state permit status. In Nesquehoning, Keel has stopped bitcoin mining at its Panther Creek site while its proposed 350-megawatt data center awaits environmental permits. Community Benefits: Swatara Township is considering a $120.3 million agreement with a data center developer, but residents urged officials to delay a vote, saying they had not seen the terms or had a chance to weigh in. Forever Chemicals: Pennsylvania’s Senate passed a bill to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, with exceptions; the measure now moves to the House.

Water Quality: Pennsylvania officials issued a “do not eat” advisory for all fish in the Wissahickon Creek basin after finding PFAS contamination, canceling a scheduled trout stocking. Similar warnings already affect the Neshaminy and Pennypack creeks. Habitat and Flooding: Workers removed Hoffman’s Mill dam from the Brandywine Creek after a six-year effort, reopening fish passage, improving habitat and reducing a flood hazard near Chadds Ford. Data Center Pushback: Residents packed a Roaring Spring meeting to oppose a proposed data center at a former paper mill, calling for a ban; state law limits townships to regulating, rather than prohibiting, private development. Pollution Controls: Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced a bill to restrict PFAS in firefighting foam, with some exceptions. Legacy Wells: A Pennsylvania retiree is helping track down abandoned oil wells, a reminder of the state’s long-running cleanup challenge.

Data Center Pushback: Luzerne County planners sent revised data-center zoning rules to County Council, with looser noise and setback limits. Statewide, residents are urging Gov. Shapiro and lawmakers to impose a moratorium. Toxic Waters: DEP warned people not to eat any fish from the Wissahickon Creek basin after finding unsafe levels of PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” PFAS Policy: The state Senate passed a bipartisan bill to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, with exceptions. Water Protection: U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly backed a federal bill to renew grants for stormwater management, flood prevention and waterway protection. Local Pollution: DuBois agreed to pay an $18,000 penalty over a February wastewater discharge.

Fracking Safeguards: Pennsylvania residents and environmental groups rallied in Harrisburg for stronger setback rules between gas wells and homes, schools and water sources, saying a surge in gas demand for data centers makes protections more urgent. Forever Chemicals: State officials issued a “do not eat” advisory for all fish in the Wissahickon Creek basin after PFAS were detected; the state Senate has also passed a bill to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam. Wastewater Pollution: DuBois will pay an $18,000 DEP penalty after about 3.1 million gallons of sewage entered Sandy Lick Creek during February snowmelt, alongside other treatment-plant violations. Data Center Rules: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s executive order aims to give municipalities more control and set environmental and public-health guardrails as projects spread across Pennsylvania. Chesapeake Restoration: The watershed received $39 million in federal grants for water-quality and habitat projects.

Water Safety: Pennsylvania agencies issued a “do not eat” advisory for all fish in the Wissahickon Creek basin after PFOS levels exceeded state guidelines. Trout stocking is canceled, and officials plan a public meeting in November. Chemical Pollution: The state Senate voted 48–1 to ban PFAS-containing firefighting foam, with exceptions; the bill now goes to the House. Energy and Data Centers: In Pennsylvania’s lone gubernatorial debate, Josh Shapiro defended his data-center rules, saying projects must provide their own power, protect the environment and win local support. Residents elsewhere in the state are pressing for tighter limits. Legacy Wells: A Bradford retiree is helping locate abandoned oil wells in and around Allegheny National Forest. The wells can leak pollutants and release methane, but their statewide total remains uncertain. Watershed Funding: Federal grants are supporting Chesapeake Bay restoration, including projects to reduce polluted runoff in central Pennsylvania.**

Data Center Pushback: Allegheny County records show plans for a massive data center campus and natural-gas plant near the Youghiogheny River. Residents and advocates are urging Pennsylvania leaders to pause approvals, while Luzerne County weighs revised rules for data centers. PFAS: The state Senate passed a bill to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, with restrictions starting in 2027; it now goes to the House. Clean Water and Climate: Pennsylvania joined 20 states suing to restore federal power-plant pollution limits. A new report also flags rising water bills in Pennsylvania. Wildlife: Federal officials say Chesapeake logperch populations in the lower Susquehanna have recovered enough to avoid Endangered Species Act protection, though monitoring will continue. Environmental Education: The state is offering more than $400,000 in grants for projects that help Pennsylvanians understand and protect the environment; applications are due Nov. 13.

Nuclear for AI in Pennsylvania: Google struck a 20-year deal with Constellation to buy 890 megawatts of new nuclear power for its AI data centers, with Constellation investing $4.3 billion to upgrade 11 reactors across Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—another sign PJM is being reshaped by data-center demand. Data-center backlash in Harrisburg: Dozens rallied at the Capitol urging Gov. Josh Shapiro and lawmakers to pause data centers statewide, arguing communities are still dealing with impacts without a strong framework. Local zoning fights in Luzerne County: A county planning commission is set to consider changes to proposed data center rules after an executive summary said current sound and setback requirements could effectively block siting in many districts. PFAS firefighting foam: Pennsylvania’s Senate advanced a bill to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, moving to the House after a 48-1 vote. Wildlife-friendly lighting: Erie turned off Bicentennial Tower lights during peak migration nights to reduce light pollution for migrating birds. Agriculture and health: Penn State broke ground on a major expansion of its Animal Diagnostic Laboratory to speed disease detection and protect farmers. Water affordability pressure: A new analysis says water rates have surged 62% over the past decade, outpacing inflation and forcing households to cut other essentials.