PPL Corp. reported in its Aug. 7 second-quarter results that its advanced-stage data center pipeline grew to 31.8 GW from 28.3 GW in Q1, with 11 GW under signed service agreements, while its 51% Invitium Energy joint venture with Blackstone Infrastructure has secured PA sites for 8-14 GW of generation.

In a July 31 order reported Aug. 12, the Virginia State Corporation Commission required a mandatory contribution in aid of construction from Dominion Energy's direct-connect customers and cut the proposed residential Rider T-1 increase from $2.90 to $0.94 a month; Google and Amazon had testified for voluntary payments.

DEP is taking comments through Sept. 7 on an individual stormwater permit for PPL Electric's rebuild of 18.1 miles of the Hauto-Frackville transmission line across seven Schuylkill County townships, disturbing 271.6 acres to serve an AI data center project.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is challenging Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) with an ad pledging to make the tech sector "pay their own way" instead of collecting construction tax breaks, saying "don't raise our electric bills."

PA House to convene at Philadelphia's Congress Hall on Sept. 9

Speaker Joanna McClinton announced Wednesday that the 203-member Pennsylvania House will meet in Philadelphia's Congress Hall on Sept. 9 to commemorate the nation's anniversary.

Pennsylvania will keep its childhood vaccine schedule despite new Trump order

The state health department said this week that Pennsylvania has no plans to change its childhood immunization requirements, despite a renewed federal push to get states to loosen those rules.

Lehigh County commissioners fill vacancy with former executive Armstrong

After seven rounds of voting Wednesday, Lehigh County commissioners chose former County Executive Phillips Armstrong Sr. as their newest member.

House · Bill On Concurrence (keywords: data center, data centers)

Senate · Third Consideration (keywords: data center, data centers)

Candidates for House, Senate and governor have aired 43 broadcast TV ads mentioning data centers this cycle — 22 from Republicans, 21 from Democrats — across 21 races in 18 states, per AdImpact.

Karoline Leavitt to leave White House press secretary post at end of the month

Leavitt announced Wednesday she is stepping down to spend more time with her two children; Trump praised her tenure and said she will remain among his top outside advisers, with no successor named.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Punchbowl that Kansas — which Trump carried by 16 points in 2024 — is in play after pastor Adam Hamilton won the Democratic nomination to face Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).

Punchbowl reports the Senate used House-passed revenue shells to move two riders before recess: two-year AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP extensions on the CR, and a $650 million classroom-supply deduction for early childhood educators on the Russia sanctions bill.

Miami beat Pittsburgh 8-2 on Aug. 12; Pirates starter Mlodzinski lasted 2.1 innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs with three walks, while Gonzales went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Pittsburgh hosts the Packers on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium with Aaron Rodgers unlikely to see much action, leaving Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar to compete for the backup role after weather pushed camp indoors at Saint Vincent College.