Latest news with #RobMatzie
Technical.ly
04-08-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
What Pennsylvania's data center boom could mean for your electric bill
As data center developers invest billions in Pennsylvania, the state is weighing who should pay the literal price of their arrival. The Public Utility Commission is set to develop a proposed model tariff — a framework outlining a utility's rates, charges, and terms of service — for 'large load' customers like data centers. The PUC held a hearing in the spring to examine how to protect household consumers when companies or organizations that use a significant amount of electricity, such as data centers, connect to the grid. While the PUC has some regulatory power itself, what it determines from the hearing will likely be used to inform lawmakers' decisions, said Rep. Rob Matzie (D–Beaver), former chair of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee which frequently works with the PUC. 'The commission is working to review this information in a timely manner,' said PUC press secretary Nils Hagen-Frederiksen. He did not provide a timeline for any potential decision. If projects don't pan out, residents could face 'stranded costs' Dozens of data centers are planned or already built in Pennsylvania, and state officials are pushing to make the Keystone state a leader in landing the facilities. In testimony, the state Office of Consumer Advocate emphasized protecting residents from stranded costs — where utilities invest in improvements for projects that don't materialize or use the projected electricity, leaving those households with the bill. 'Any stranded investments from large load customers paid by ratepayers hinders economic development by raising the cost to businesses and reducing spending by residents,' said Darryl Lawrence, acting consumer advocate for the Office of Consumer Advocate, in submitted testimony. The testimony from consumer advocates, electricity distribution companies, and companies that build or rely on data centers will 'inform future policy' and the creation of the model tariff, according to the PUC's news release announcing the hearing. Ohio has already enacted similar regulation It's a national concern: how to parse out charges as demand for electricity grows. Some states have been addressing the issue. Ohio's PUC this month ordered that data centers must pay a minimum of 85% of their highest forecasted electricity use, even if they use less, to cover infrastructure costs. AEP Ohio, an electric company, previously asked state regulators to require data center developers to pay for at least 90% of the electricity they requested for 10 years, whether they use that much or not. Lawmakers in Georgia are dealing with how to avoid costs shifting to small ratepayers, while increasing the state's energy capacity. Pennsylvania will grapple with the issue in the coming months: Almost 60 parties — including developers, electricity companies, advocacy groups, and citizens — submitted public comments after the hearing. And industry leaders have their eyes on Pennsylvania, with executives from Google, Amazon, Duquesne Light Co., FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, the trade organization Data Center Coalition, and others testifying at the PUC hearing. Amazon announced a $20 billion plan to build two data centers in Bucks and Luzerne counties earlier this year. And President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick recently announced $90 billion in AI, energy, and data center investments in Pennsylvania at an AI and energy summit. Local energy companies want developers to foot costs Duquesne Light Co. requires large load developers to handle the costs of their own studies and infrastructure investment, said Jamie Davis, director of rates, energy procurement, and federal/RTO affairs for Duquesne Light Co., in testimony to the PUC. Those costs should fall to large load developers when there is no benefit to other customers, he said. DLC also recommends that large load customers generate their own power to reduce any impacts on existing customers and the grid. The company serves over 600,000 customers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Officials at FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, which serves over 2 million customers in the state, told the PUC in testimony for the hearing that developments such as data centers can pose new challenges. 'The large loads we are talking about today often require significant investment in the transmission system,' said Kelly Gower, vice president, Finance & Regulatory for FirstEnergy Pennsylvania. 'The requests we are discussing are often for new customers to be situated in geographic areas where electrical systems were not designed to support loads needed anywhere near those which are now being requested.' Protections to balance the legislative push to ease permitting State legislators are introducing an increasing number of bills specifically addressing the influx of data centers to the state, with many bills streamlining permitting. Matzie said he will introduce legislation aimed at protecting Pennsylvanians from increased costs or blackouts and brownouts, a growing concern as data centers put stress on the grid. The language of the bill, which he expects will be finalized and introduced in the fall, is dependent on insights from the PUC. 'We value the expertise over at the Public Utility Commission and what they do and how they do it, so that's a key component,' he said. 'They will be key drivers in coming up with what this final language will look like.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beaver County receives several state grants for parks, green spaces
HARRISBURG ― A wave of state grants will benefit various projects planned for community spaces around the Beaver Valley. On Jan. 28, officials announced the Commonwealth Financing Authority Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program was funding several projects in communities such as Aliquippa, Rochester, Hopewell Township and others with plans to renovate their public spaces. The focus of these grants will be expansions to recreational greenspaces in the region and funding renovations at community parks. 'I'm very pleased to announce state funding to help local communities pay for these worthy projects,' said Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47, New Sewickley Township. 'Creating useful open space and upgrading playgrounds for children expands opportunities for state fun, exercise and outdoor recreation.' 'Some of the funds will be used to transform abandoned lots in Aliquippa and Rochester Borough into recreational greenspaces,' said state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-16, Harmony Township. 'Other funds will support playground improvements in Hopewell. All the projects are going to give residents new outdoor spaces to enjoy.' According to the local representatives, the following projects were awarded funds: $100,000 to Primary Health Network to transform a 1-acre section of blighted land along Virginia Avenue in Rochester into a recreational greenspace with a pergola, community gardens, a central water feature, walking trails, sidewalks and ADA-accessible playground equipment. $90,872 to Hopewell Township for playground improvements at Woodlawn Park, including removing an abandoned building and installing new playground equipment and surfacing. $86,730 to Hopewell Township to remove aging playground equipment at the Sharon Grange Park in Aliquippa and install new equipment. $75,000 to Koppel for its community park project. $47,500 to hydroponic farming company GetBlok Farms LLC to transform two abandoned lots into a multi-purpose open greenspace in downtown Aliquippa for passive recreation, hosting vendors and produce pickup. $44,470 to Patterson Township for community park improvements. The Commonwealth Financing Authority is an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which administers the state's economic stimulus packages. The Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program was started in 2012 to plan, acquire, develop, rehabilitate and repair greenways, recreational trails, open spaces, parks and beautification projects. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County receives several state grants for parks, green spaces
