Energy siting and the grid
Solar, wind, battery storage, transmission, interconnection, power plants, pipelines and utility rates. What changed, the rules that apply and the dates ahead for projects in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Latest briefings
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania proposes cutting power to data centers first when the regional grid runs short
State utility regulators propose that utilities curtail large computing loads lacking their own new capacity before other customers in grid emergencies; comments are due 30 days after Bulletin publication.
ProposedEnergy & gridData centers - MediumDauphin County, PA
Federal: Regulators find no significant impact from restarting Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island reactor
Federal nuclear and energy agencies issued a final environmental finding for the Crane Clean Energy Center restart, and the nuclear regulator upheld denial of a hearing; license decisions remain pending.
FinalEnergy & grid - LowLuzerne County, PA
Federal: Transco seeks approval for Luzerne County gas pipeline loop; party deadline October 13
Transco asked federal regulators on September 4 to approve a $54.7 million, 3.38-mile pipeline loop and compressor work in northeastern Pennsylvania; scoping comments are due November 2.
ProposedEnergy & grid - MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania regulators examine who pays for data center grid costs; panel applications due October 14
The Public Utility Commission will hold a November 17 technical conference on allocating costs caused by data centers and other large loads, with written comments due November 13 and December 18.
ProposedData centersEnergy & grid - MediumPennsylvania
Federal rule drops carbon capture mandate for new gas plants and repeals limits on existing units
EPA's September 17 rule, effective November 16, removes carbon capture requirements for new baseload gas turbines and existing coal and gas units, while a broader repeal proposal takes comments until November 2.
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires local approvals before state permit review of large data centers
For new applications by data centers above 25 megawatts, a binding consent order allows rolling state review; data centers are removed from fast-track and the sales tax exemption is tied to the conditions.
- MediumFranklin County, PA
Pennsylvania: Franklin County transmission line draws over 100 protests; prehearing conference October 29
Transource's May 21, 2026 application to site a 28.8-mile 230 kV line and new Rice substation faces Public Utility Commission review. A new notice sets October 15 for protests and petitions to intervene and October 29 for an in-person prehearing conference in Harrisburg.
ProposedEnergy & grid - MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania act reported to require decommissioning security for leased-land solar and displace local rules
Act 44 of 2026, signed July 20, 2026, is reported to require financial assurance and removal within 18 months for commercial solar over 2 megawatts on leased land, and to displace municipal decommissioning provisions, with most provisions taking effect in January 2027. The statute text could not be read.
- MediumPennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires larger data centers to report energy and water use by July 2027
A budget-season amendment to the Fiscal Code makes data centers above 10 megawatts file annual energy and water reports with environmental regulators, with reported penalties of $10,000 a day.
- HighPennsylvania
Pennsylvania regulators adopt model tariff guidance covering collateral and five-year terms for loads over 50 megawatts
The Public Utility Commission adopted a model tariff for large electric customers on April 30, 2026. It is guidance for each utility's own filing, not a rule, but it points to collateral, a five-year minimum term, 48 months' notice of exit and public interconnection queues.
FinalEnergy & grid
Rules 7
- Federal · 91 FR 768 (January 8, 2026); 33 CFR Part 330Army Corps nationwide permits (2026 set)
- Federal · 26 U.S.C. 45Y, 48E as amended by P.L. 119-21Federal tax credit deadlines for wind and solar projects
- Pennsylvania · EO 2026-05; Act 21 of 2026 (SB 146); PUC large-load orderData centre power, permit and reporting requirements
- Pennsylvania · 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.; 25 Pa. Code Ch. 106Floodplain management and local floodplain permits
- Pennsylvania · 67 Pa. Code Ch. 441, Ch. 459; 36 P.S. § 670-420PennDOT highway occupancy permits and traffic studies
- Pennsylvania · 66 Pa.C.S. § 501; 52 Pa. Code §§ 57.71-57.77PUC siting of high-voltage transmission lines
- Pennsylvania · Act 44 of 2026 (SB 349); 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq. (MPC)Solar and battery storage siting, decommissioning, PJM
Funding and incentives 11
- Federal · US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly Loan Programs Office)DOE Energy Dominance Financing Program (section 1706)
- Federal · US Treasury and IRS; US Department of EnergyLow-income communities bonus for the clean electricity investment credit (48E(h))
- Federal · US Treasury and IRSClean electricity investment and production credits (48E, 45Y)
- Federal · USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Rural Development)USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and guaranteed loans
- Federal · US Treasury and IRSBuilding energy credits ended June 30, 2026 (179D, 45L, 30C)
- Federal · US Environmental Protection AgencyEPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (Solar for All, National Clean Investment Fund, Clean Communities Investment Accelerator)
- Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; PECO, PPL Electric Utilities, Duquesne Light, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric CompanyAct 129 utility energy-efficiency programs, Phase V (PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania)
- Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania DEP; Reinvestment FundPennsylvania Green Energy Loan Fund (GELF)
- Pennsylvania · Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentSolar for Schools Grant Program (S4S)
- Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania DEPAlternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) — EV charging and alternative-fuel refueling
- Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (program administrator InClime); PJM-GATSAlternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) solar photovoltaic requirement and solar credits (SRECs)