MJL Morning Briefing | | From Matt Leonard · Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | TOP STORY Monitoring Analytics found data centers accounted for $6.3B (38%) of the $16.4B in charges from PJM's newest capacity auction and proposed pulling them from the base auction; PJM's board aims to file a backstop data-center auction with FERC this month for a September clearing, with real-time RTO prices at $95.22/MWh and load near 106,574 MW amid this morning's heat. Utility Dive | Energy Industry The Public Utility Commission voted 4-1 to grant Pennsylvania American Water a roughly $74.9M annual revenue increase, cutting the utility's original request by more than half before it reaches customer bills. PA Environment Daily The Department of Environmental Protection issued the first-ever Title V air-quality permit for Tenaska PA Partners' 940-MW natural gas plant in Westmoreland County, which has run since 2018. PA Environment Daily | PA & NJ Politics The $50.8B state budget included just one data-center measure, requiring centers drawing more than 10 MW to disclose energy and water use, while lawmakers left a roughly $2B sales-tax exemption for AI data centers untouched. Spotlight PA Sen. John Fetterman said he would formally leave the Democratic Party if it makes opposition to Israel part of its official platform, drawing a rebuke from Rep. Chris Deluzio over Fetterman aiding GOP fundraising against Pennsylvania Democrats. PoliticsPA / NOTUS The Bucks and Montgomery County Central Labor Councils recommended Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for reelection in Pennsylvania's 1st District, a notable cross-party labor endorsement heading into 2026. Bucks County Courier Times | What Moved Yesterday — Your Watchlist Act No. 37 of 2026, July 20, 2026 [MONITOR] Referred to COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, July 20, 2026 | What Moved Yesterday — Keyword Matches Act No. 44 of 2026, July 20, 2026 (keywords: solar, solar energy) | 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 | National Politics A single procedural vote today would tee up a stopgap funding bill, the NDAA, a congressional stock-trading ban and the framework for a $95B reconciliation package carrying the SAVE Act, with Trump described as offering 'zero' engagement and Reps. Massie opposed and Chip Roy undecided. Politico Playbook Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine testify before Senate Appropriations on Trump's supplemental request to backfill stockpiles drained by the renewed Iran conflict, with Chair Susan Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski among GOP skeptics. Punchbowl News President Trump said he will levy 50% tariffs on certain Canadian imports, reigniting a trade war with a top U.S. ally as his administration presses negotiations over the USMCA. NYT The Morning The Senate Judiciary Committee teed up a July 30 vote on acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the White House courts retiring Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn to lock in confirmation before the August recess. Politico Playbook | Pittsburgh Sports Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in consecutive at-bats and drove in five runs as the Yankees beat Pittsburgh 8-5; All-Star starter Braxton Ashcraft was tagged for a career-high eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits over three innings, dropping the Pirates to 52-49. ESPN Pittsburgh reports to Saint Vincent College on July 28 for its first training camp under new head coach Mike McCarthy, ending nearly two decades of Mike Tomlin, with the first public practice set for July 29. Steelers.com | Market Snapshot | PJM West Hub (RT) | $98.00/MWh | | PJM AEP-Dayton (RT) | $90.89/MWh | | PJM Capacity 28/29 | $325.00/MW-day | | Henry Hub | $2.83/MMBtu +3.7% | | WTI Crude | $83.95/bbl +1.8% |
As of Jul 21, 8:08 a.m. EPT (PJM RT) | Curated by Matt Leonard. Numbers from real endpoints only. |
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