A new Western Pennsylvania power plant will not only power a gargantuan data center campus, it will actually add electricity generation to the region's much strained grid.

Why it matters: Data centers are putting pressure on the electrical grid, contributing to surging demand and rising prices for electricity.

Context: Developers are constructing a 4.5-gigawatt natural-gas power plant and data center campus on the 3,200-acre site of a former coal power plant in Homer City, Indiana County, about an hour east of Pittsburgh.

Driving the news: Homer City Redevelopment CEO Corey Hessen provided an update last week at a Pittsburgh Technology Council event, telling the crowd at Rivers Casino that the first vertical steel beams for the project will be raised this week after extensive foundation work has been completed.

By the numbers: The power plant will initially provide 4,500 megawatts of power, including about 3,700 megawatts for data centers, Hessen said.

• That leaves about 700 to 800 megawatts for the electrical grid.
• That's a fraction of the electricity generated in Pennsylvania, but it could supply power to thousands of homes, according to Homer City Redevelopment.

What they're saying: Hessen is proud the project is able to follow state and federal guidance in providing all the data center power on-site without sucking from ratepayers, he told Axios.

Between the lines: The Homer City project is moving forward on schedule. Hessen said it received its air quality permit in six months, faster than expected.

• "Don't let anyone tell you that you can't build in Pennsylvania," he said.

Friction point: Skepticism about AI and data centers is growing nationally and among Pennsylvanians, and some residents are pushing back, citing rising electricity rates and environmental concerns.

State of play: There are about 1,200 construction workers on-site currently, and that will grow to about 3,500 by this time next year, Hessen said.

What's next: First power generation is expected in early 2028, Hessen said.

Go deeper

The goose is loose in Pittsburgh.

The big picture: The Silly Goose Unapologetic Gifts & Novelties, a playful indie gift shop with a fast-growing online following, opened its first Western Pennsylvania storefront on Saturday.

Zoom in: Nate Treichler, owner of the original Silly Goose in Jim Thorpe, Carbon County, opened his first shop on National Goose Day in 2024. The idea caught on quickly and has since amassed nearly 65,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.

The vibe: A mix of greeting cards, stickers, novelty socks, and offbeat home goods fills the shop. The in-house "Silly Goose" line leads the charge with cheeky tees, irreverent hats ("it's a bad day to be a hotdog"), plus candles, pickle-themed finds, and other goods.

• You'll receive a "license to be silly" club card for deals after your first purchase.

How it works: After learning about Pittsburgh's push to activate vacant storefronts, Treichler applied for the city's pop-up and rent abatement program and landed a lease Downtown on Wood Street.

• His shop sits next to The Studio by PGH Candle, part of a wave of new small retailers opening ahead of the NFL Draft.

If you go: The Silly Goose is at 417 Wood St., Downtown.

• Noon-5pm Wednesday-Thursday, 10am-7pm Friday-Saturday, 12pm-5pm Sunday.

Share this story

🌴 United Airlines started nonstop service from PIT to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this week. One five-hour flight a day leaves Pittsburgh at 6pm and one leaves LAX at 9am.

• Flights start at $271 one-way. (Blue Sky News)

💰 The University of Pittsburgh committed $5 million to the city for parks and neighborhood beautification. Pitt joins other nonprofit and business organizations in contributing funds to Pittsburgh's budget crisis. (Pitt Wire)

🥃 Vieux Carré, a New Orleans-inspired speakeasy from the DeShantz group, will open Friday in the Strip, at the back of the Sea Monkey restaurant on Smallman Street. (🔐 Business Times)

⚖️ A grand jury indicted six Pittsburgh-area residents over an alleged 2024 antisemitic attack in Oakland against a Jewish man wearing a Star of David necklace. (WESA)

♨️ Peoples Gas is proposing a $16 average monthly rate hike for residential customers to bring in an extra $163 million a year. The utility says the increase will fund pipe replacements and help cut emissions as part of a long-term infrastructure plan. (TribLive)

Soccer fans who can't make it over to Philly for World Cup matches can still enjoy a festival-like atmosphere in the Steel City.

The intrigue: Acrisure Stadium is hosting fan zones on the field to watch knockout round, quarterfinal and final matches on the stadium's massive 96-by-28-foot screen, according to Visit PA.

Context: Philadelphia is one of 16 North American cities hosting World Cup matches this summer.

State of play: Pittsburgh's fan zone is part of an extensive series of large events the city is hosting this year.

Zoom in: Acrisure's jumbotron will show six matches.

• Round of 16 matches on July 4 at 1pm and 5pm
• Round of 16 matches on July 5 at 4pm and 8pm
• A quarterfinal match on July 9 at 4pm
• The World Cup Final on July 19 at 3pm

What's next