April 23, 2026 -

Pennsylvania’s two largest coal power plants, which were slated to close in 2028, can now remain open through 2032 after reaching an agreement with the state to upgrade waste-water discharge technology.

Soaring demand for energy as data centers spring up across Pennsylvania and the PJM electricity market has created urgent need to both preserve and add generating capacity. Notably, both President Trump and Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro praised the agreement to keep the plants running.

Shapiro’s office said that allowing the plants to continue to operate will, “help avoid supply shortfalls that can drive up electricity prices for consumers across the region.”

And as a sign of coming data center power demand, data centers bought more electrical equipment in the first three months of 2026 than they did in all of 2025, according to GE Vernova, one of the leading producers of gas turbines.

Orders across GE Vernova’s business were up almost 80 percent compared to the same time last year. Prices are also rising with the cost of gas turbines expected to be nearly 200 percent above 2019 levels by the end of the year.

And on Capitol Hill yesterday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum offered strong backing of efforts by lawmakers to enact comprehensive permitting reform.

During a Senate Appropriations hearing Burgum said, "It’s absolutely essential that this permitting bill goes forward.”