MJL Morning Briefing | | From Matt Leonard · Monday, August 3, 2026 | TOP STORY Inside Climate News reported Saturday that the wave of proposed AI data centers will pull more shale gas drilling into Pennsylvania, with advocates pressing for stronger health and environmental protections; gas was supplying 47,917 MW of PJM generation at 8:36 a.m., the largest single fuel share. Inside Climate News | Energy Industry DEP is inviting comments on a water quality permit covering fill and utility lines for the Aligned Data Centers project in Shippingport Borough and Raccoon Township, Beaver County. PA Environment Digest The Pennsylvania PUC will hold its 2026 Pipeline, Electric and Cybersecurity Safety Conference Sept. 9-10 in State College. PA PUC | National Politics Senate appropriators reached a bipartisan deal Sunday to fund the government through Dec. 11, and the agreement blocks, for now, a proposed OMB rule expanding the administration's power to rescind grant funding and install political appointees over grant awards. Punchbowl News Trump says new Iran talks begin today as oil prices fall Trump said the next round of talks with Iran commences this afternoon, with Oman and other regional interlocutors working toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz; oil dropped overnight, though Iran's foreign ministry said an Oman deal would not reopen the strait. Politico Playbook Todd Blanche issued a document declaring the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund order "rescinded" with "no force or effect," clearing Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis ahead of Tuesday's 9 a.m. Judiciary markup; the earliest floor confirmation would be Saturday. Punchbowl News Michigan Senate primary tomorrow tests progressive surge in a swing state Progressive Abdul El-Sayed led moderate Rep. Haley Stevens by 10 to 19 points in polls released last week for tomorrow's Democratic Senate primary; AIPAC has put a record $30 million in advertising behind Stevens. NYT The Morning | PA & NJ Politics Shapiro's rapport with DHS Secretary Mullin becomes a MAGA flashpoint MAGA voices escalated attacks on DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin after Gov. Josh Shapiro recounted a win alongside him to Politico Playbook on Friday; asked whether Shapiro's comments hurt Mullin more than Gov. Wes Moore's praise, a senior administration official said, "Yes. 100%." Politico Playbook | On the Floor — Next Session House · Bill On Concurrence (keywords: data center, data centers) PA General Assembly Senate · Third Consideration (keywords: data center, data centers) PA General Assembly | Pittsburgh Sports Mitch Keller was chased after 2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 7 earned runs to fall to 6-8, while Cincinnati's Chase Burns struck out 9 over 6 innings for his 12th straight decision; Pittsburgh managed 4 hits. ESPN Pittsburgh acquired the former All-Star reliever Saturday for catcher Omar Alfonso and outfielder Luis Cruz, with New York covering part of his salary, after placing Ryan O'Hearn on the 10-day injured list Aug. 1 with a left quad strain expected to cost six to eight weeks. MLB.com Pittsburgh added Jenkins on a one-year deal and cut Savage to clear a spot on the 91-man roster; the team's first padded practice of camp is today at 11:20 a.m. in Latrobe. Steelers Depot | Market Snapshot | PJM West Hub (RT) | $39.90/MWh | | PJM AEP-Dayton (RT) | $31.49/MWh | | PJM Capacity 28/29 | $325.00/MW-day | | Henry Hub | $2.63/MMBtu -8.4% | | WTI Crude | $78.90/bbl -6.8% |
As of Aug 3, 8:36 a.m. EPT (PJM RT) | Curated by Matt Leonard. Numbers from real endpoints only. |
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