A new review article in Oxford Open Energy by Dr. Corey Young, executive director of the Center for Energy and the Built Environment at Washington & Jefferson College, makes the argument data centers are critical infrastructure, and should be governed that way. The paper, titled “Clouds on the horizon: an integrative review of data centers and local governance in the United States,” synthesizes sprawling literature on various aspects of data center development, including ener

Walkable neighborhoods are often seen as desirable places to live, offering the convenience of strolling to a nearby grocery store, restaurant, or park while keeping auto traffic to a minimum. Not only do walkable neighborhoods help reduce carbon emissions, they also offer health benefits for residents. One concept for walkable neighborhoods is the “15-minute city.” This is an urban planning model where everything residents need in their daily life can be accessed within a 15

A $1.7 billion high-voltage power line project to help the regional electric grid improve reliability and meet rising power demand in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region is planned to be built through 10 Western and Central Pennsylvania counties. The Kammer-Juniata Project is a 765-kilovolt (kV) line that will span 220 miles from the Kammer substation in northern West Virginia, through Greene, Fayette, and eight other counties to the Juniata substation in Perry County. It

Residential electric customers are increasingly being drawn to easy-to-install portable solar panels that simply plug into an electrical outlet and provide enough energy to shave some money off their rising utility bills. Also known as plug-in solar panels or balcony solar, the panels are a low-cost option that is available to renters and homeowners when a traditional residential rooftop solar system is not an option. The panels, which can be placed on a balcony, outside a wi

After more than a year of study, a state government advisory committee has released a report that examines how artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the global economy and creating concerns about privacy, misuse, and disruption to the workforce in a number of areas. The Joint State Government Commission was directed by the legislature in 2023 to develop the report, and an advisory committee of 20 legislative, business, academic, and technology leaders met over more t

The scope of work at the well-respected Center for Energy Policy and Management at Washington & Jefferson College is expanding as it continues to meet the region’s evolving needs. Today, the center will take on a new name, the Center for Energy and the Built Environment, as its focus shifts to include themes that frequently intersect with its work on energy policy and research. Increasingly, the center’s work includes energy systems, sustainable design, infrastructure, climat

Up to half of data centers scheduled to become operational in 2026 may be delayed due to power constraints, supply chain issues and community opposition, a new report found. The report by Sightline Climate , an energy transition research and intelligence company, tracks 777 hyperscale data centers announced globally since 2024, which account for 190 gigawatts (GW) of electricity demand for about 140 projects. It found that while more than 16 GW of capacity is scheduled to com

The Center for Energy Policy and Management at Washington & Jefferson College will undertake a project to address energy inefficiency in area households while fostering youth leadership and environmental stewardship. Thanks to generous financial support from the West Penn Energy Fund, the Center will assemble energy efficiency care packages containing items such as LED light bulbs and weatherization materials. Middle school students participating in the Upper St. Clair School

Electricity rates across the PJM regional grid have risen sharply over the past eight years, and Pennsylvania customers have seen the biggest increase, a recent report found. The research brief by the state Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) determined that average prices for Pennsylvania residents increased by 46.1% between 2018 and 2025, compared to 40.1% for Ohio, 39.1% for Virginia and 41% for all other Mid-Atlantic states in the PJM region. Pennsylvania’s average electrici

Electric bills will continue to climb for customers in the PJM Interconnection regional electric grid after the most recent auction for future electricity totaled a record $16.4 billion due to rapidly rising demand for power. The grid operator for the 13-state Mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, has been struggling in recent years to meet rapidly rising demand and modernize its rules to bring new power supplies online quickly. Much of the increase in demand is due t

Natural gas production in Pennsylvania continued to show strong 2025 results, as a recent Independent Fiscal Office report showed an increase in both the amount produced and new wells drilled. Production volume during the third quarter showed a 5.1% increase from the previous year, and overall production for the year so far is up 5.7% from 2024. “This would be the strongest increase in annual production since calendar year 2021 (6.9%) if it holds up,” the report states. The

PJM, the regional electric grid operator for 13 Mid-Atlantic states, says it will have enough power capacity to serve its 67 million customers this winter, but continues to warn that demand for electricity is rising faster than new generation is being added. Power consumption rises during the winter months due to heating needs, and extreme weather can also cause generation outages. This winter PJM expects to have 180,800 megawatts (MW) of capacity and is forecasting peak ele

Legislation to increase the required setback distances between unconventional gas wells and buildings was recently introduced in the state House. It’s an issue that has been debated for years but hasn’t been changed. State Rep. Greg Vitali, majority chairman of the state House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee, recently introduced H.B. 1946 . Currently, unconventional wells are prohibited from being drilled within 500 feet of any building, 1,000 feet of

Weatherization is a low-cost but underutilized solution fo r reducing emissions in the building sector . Weatherization programs, which...

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to repeal federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power...

As summer 2025 kicks off, grid operators and federal reliability officials are bracing for record-breaking electricity demand,...

The new president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition outlined the multiple benefits of the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania and the...

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved two proposals to help boost the supply of electricity and head off potential power...

The Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host a free Feb. 5 webinar on how Form Energy is ramping...

The continuing rise in electric vehicle adoption across the U.S. is presenting budget challenges for federal and state road maintenance...