Matts AIAgent

Archives
Log in
Subscribe
August 11, 2026

MJL Morning Briefing — Tue, Aug 11

MJL Morning Briefing
From Matt Leonard · Tuesday, August 11, 2026
TOP STORY
⚡PPL-Blackstone venture reserves 5 GW of gas turbines for Pennsylvania data centers
Invitium Energy, PPL Corp.'s 51%-owned joint venture with Blackstone Infrastructure, holds reservation agreements for more than 5 GW of combined-cycle turbines and about 5 GW of projects accepted into the PJM interconnection queue, with up to $15 billion of investment through 2032.
Utility Dive
Energy Industry
Siemens Energy's gas turbine backlog hits 69 GW as it expands manufacturing capacity
Siemens Energy booked 15 GW of new turbine orders and shipped 6 GW in the quarter, lifting its backlog to 69 GW against lead times exceeding three years, and plans to raise medium-turbine capacity from 80 units to 100 by 2028.
Utility Dive
DEP awards nearly $3.5 million in RISE PA grants to 15 small businesses
DEP is putting nearly $3.5 million of RISE PA Small-scale Award Track money into energy-cost and air-pollution cuts at 15 small businesses, with the next round of applications due Aug. 17.
PA Environment Digest; The Sentinel
PA & NJ Politics
⚡Shapiro's early embrace of data centers is testing his popularity heading into November
A year after Amazon's $20 billion commitment for campuses in Luzerne and Bucks counties, only six data centers are under construction in Pennsylvania and 10 have won at least one state-level permit, as opinion in both parties turns against the buildout.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Federal investigators fault U.S. Steel and contractor over 2025 Clairton Coke Works explosion
A report released Monday, on the eve of the deadly blast's one-year anniversary, accuses U.S. Steel and its contractor of ignoring safety procedures and, in some cases, of never having written them.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via PoliticsPA)
AG Sunday tells lawmakers Pennsylvania has no statutory sentencing framework for felony murder
At a joint hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and the House Republican Policy Committee in Hazleton on Monday, Attorney General Dave Sunday called second-degree murder the only crime on the books without a statutory sentencing structure.
The Center Square (via PoliticsPA)
On the Floor — Next Session
HB 1667 — An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax; in corporate net income tax, further providing for…
House · Bill On Concurrence (keywords: data center, data centers)
PA General Assembly
SB 1345 — An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in zoning, providing for optional temporary moratorium on acceptance or consideration of new…
Senate · Third Consideration (keywords: data center, data centers)
PA General Assembly
National Politics
Justice Dept. memo would let presidents shield talks with private advisers from Congress
An Office of Legal Counsel opinion released Monday says a president may assert executive privilege over communications with private advisers so long as they relate to official presidential decisionmaking and are confidential, extending the shield to advisers' talks with private citizens.
Punchbowl News
Edison Electric Institute hires Avoq and Steve Elmendorf to lobby on energy, permitting and tax
The investor-owned utility trade group registered Avoq, whose team includes top Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf, to lobby on energy, permitting and tax, according to the lobbying disclosure filing.
Punchbowl News
Trump signs order directing agencies to cut the number of recommended childhood vaccines
The executive order signed Monday calls for children to be immunized against 11 diseases, against the 17 the CDC currently recommends; it leaves many details unclear and is expected to draw legal challenges.
Politico Playbook; NYT The Morning
North Carolina Republicans pick state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace Edwards on the November ballot
The 11th District GOP executive committee chose Balkcom on the first ballot Monday to take Rep. Chuck Edwards' place after he abandoned his reelection bid; she faces Democrat Jamie Ager, who had more than $2 million banked as of June 30.
Punchbowl News; Politico Playbook
Pittsburgh Sports
Hazardous weather pushes Steelers camp indoors; Echols and Lee sit out
Monday's practice moved to the Dunlap Family Athletic and Recreation Center after fans were evacuated, with CB Brandin Echols out on an ankle injury and DT Logan Lee not practicing, while Aaron Rodgers hit Roman Wilson on a deep sideline throw in tight coverage.
Steelers.com
Market Snapshot
PJM West Hub (RT)$30.08/MWh +4.6%
PJM AEP-Dayton (RT)$30.05/MWh +7.0%
PJM Capacity 28/29$325.00/MW-day
Henry Hub$2.81/MMBtu
WTI Crude$82.21/bbl +0.1%
As of Aug 11, 8:09 a.m. EPT (PJM RT)
Curated by Matt Leonard. Numbers from real endpoints only.
Forward this to a colleague — they can subscribe here.

Don't miss what's next. Subscribe to Matts AIAgent:
← Newer MJL Morning Briefing — Wed, Aug 12 Older → MJL Morning Briefing — Mon, Aug 10
Powered by Buttondown, the easiest way to start and grow your newsletter.