Pennsylvania's Homer City Energy Campus: A Brownfield Transformed for Data Center Innovation

The redevelopment of the Homer City Generating Station in Pennsylvania represents an important transformation from a decommissioned coal-fired power plant to a state-of-the-art natural gas-powered data center campus, showing the creative reuse of a large brownfield site and the creation of what can be a significant location in power generation and the digital future.

The redevelopment will address the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing technologies, while also contributing to Pennsylvania's digital advancement, in an area not known as a hotbed of technical prowess.

Brownfield Development

Established in 1969, the original generating station was a 2-gigawatt coal-fired power plant located near Homer City, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The site was formerly the largest coal-burning power plant in the state, and known for its 1,217-foot chimney, the tallest in the United States.

In April 2023, the owners announced its closure due to competition from cheaper natural gas and the rising costs of environmental compliance. The plant was officially decommissioned on July 1, 2023, and its demolition, including the iconic chimney, was completed by March 22, 2025. ​

The redevelopment project, led by Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) in partnership with Kiewit Power Constructors Co., plans to transform the 3,200-acre site into the Homer City Energy Campus, via construction of a 4.5-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant, making it the largest of its kind in the United States.

Gas Turbines

This plant will utilize seven high-efficiency, hydrogen-enabled 7HA.02 gas turbines supplied by GE Vernova, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. ​The GE Vernova gas turbine has been seeing significant interest in the power generation market as new power plants have been moving to the planning stage.

The GE Vernova 7HA.02 is a high-efficiency, hydrogen-enabled gas turbine designed for advanced power generation applications. As part of GE Vernova's HA product line, it offers a blend of efficiency, operational flexibility, and fuel adaptability.​ Hallmarks of the equipment include:

Power Output and Efficiency: In simple cycle operation, the 7HA.02 delivers a net output of approximately 384 megawatts (MW) with a net efficiency of 42.6%. When configured in a 1x1 combined cycle setup, it achieves a net output of about 573 MW and a net efficiency of 63.4%. In a 2x1 combined cycle configuration, the net output increases to approximately 1,148 MW with a net efficiency of 63.6%. ​

Hydrogen Capability: The 7HA.02 is capable of operating on fuel blends containing up to 50% hydrogen by volume, with a technological pathway to accommodate 100% hydrogen in the future. This capability supports efforts to reduce carbon emissions in power generation. ​

Operational Flexibility: The turbine can ramp up to full load in less than 30 minutes, providing rapid response to grid demands. It also features a turndown capability to approximately 33% of its full load, maintaining emissions compliance during low-demand periods. ​

Fuel Versatility: Designed to accommodate a wide range of gaseous fuels—including natural gas, shale gas, high ethane content gas, and hydrogen—as well as liquid fuels such as #2 diesel and crude oils. This versatility allows operators to optimize fuel use based on availability and economic factors. ​

Environmental Impact: Utilizing the 7HA.02 in a combined cycle configuration can lead to significant reductions in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional coal-fired power plants, supporting cleaner energy production. ​

The 7HA.02's combination of high efficiency, rapid startup, and fuel flexibility makes it a suitable choice for modern power plants aiming to balance performance with environmental considerations.​

Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova, told the media:

Establishing an Innovative Data Center Campus

Development of a data center campus designed to meet the increasing demands of AI and HPC technologies is a significant part of the redevelopment project. The campus will leverage existing infrastructure, including transmission lines connected to the PJM and NYISO power grids, substations, and water access. ​

The natural gas development centers on the local Marcellus Shale, the second largest natural gas find in the world.

With an initial capital investment projected to exceed $10 billion for power infrastructure and site readiness, with data center development expected to inject billions more. This is also the largest such investment in the history of the state,

The establishment of the Homer City Energy Campus is pivotal for several reasons; not the least of which is that the project exemplifies a shift from coal to cleaner natural gas energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 60–65% per megawatt-hour compared to the former coal plant. ​

Dave Flickinger, Kiewit Power Constructors Co. Executive Vice President, expressed his company’s commitment to the project, saying:

Conclusion: Energy Transition, Economic Development and Digital Innovation

The transformation of the Homer City Generating Station into a natural gas-powered data center campus aligns with broader goals of energy transition, economic development, and digital innovation, marking a significant milestone in accelerating Pennsylvania's digital future. By creating a hub for AI and HPC, the campus will be able to position Pennsylvania as a leader in digital innovation, attracting technology companies and fostering economic growth. 

The new power plant will not only supply energy to the data centers but also contribute electricity to thousands of homes on the local grid, enhancing regional energy stability. ​Additional contributions to the local economy will be made by the expected 10,000 direct on-site construction jobs and the expectation of up to 1,000 permanent positions. A rendering of the entire planned project campus, with pop-up details of each project, can be found here.

Keystone Momentum: Pennsylvania’s Emerging Data Center Growth Hubs in 2025

Pennsylvania is steadily positioning itself as a strategic hub for data infrastructure in the Northeastern U.S., drawing investment from hyperscale and enterprise users alike. While it may not yet rival Northern Virginia or Chicago, a combination of favorable real estate economics, tax incentives, and proximity to major metros like Philadelphia, New York, and Pittsburgh is creating fertile ground for digital infrastructure growth. Here’s a look at the most significant data center developments reshaping the state’s landscape in 2025.

Berks 61: CloudHQ Anchors Hyperscale Ambitions

Location: Berks County, near Reading
Developer: CloudHQ
Capacity: 2.4 million square feet across four buildings

CloudHQ is making a bold statement in Berks County with its planned $2 billion data center campus near the I-78 corridor. The site, part of the Berks 61 industrial park, is positioned to serve major cloud tenants looking to reach both New York and Virginia with low-latency connections. The company secured key land and zoning approvals in 2024, and construction on the first 600,000 square-foot facility is now underway. With CloudHQ’s typical hyperscale build-to-suit approach, the project is expected to bring long-term power deals and edge connectivity that could anchor the region’s digital economy.

Philly Metro Infill: TierPoint, STACK, and Beyond

Location: Greater Philadelphia Region
Players: TierPoint, STACK Infrastructure, Compass Datacenters

Philadelphia continues to see incremental enterprise and wholesale demand, especially in urban-adjacent zones where low-latency access is key. TierPoint has expanded its Valley Forge facility to support regional SaaS and financial services clients. Meanwhile, STACK Infrastructure and Compass Datacenters are both reportedly evaluating sites in the western suburbs, drawn by Pennsylvania’s more favorable tax structures compared to neighboring New Jersey. While not yet a hyperscale hotbed, Philly’s mix of education, life sciences, and fintech sectors is attracting infrastructure investment, particularly in the AI and R&D sectors.

Scranton-Wilkes-Barre: From Coal Country to Cloud Ready

Location: Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties
Projects: QTS exploratory activity, multiple land banking efforts

Long a transportation and warehousing hub, the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre corridor is now drawing serious interest from data center developers. In 2024, multiple parcels were quietly acquired by site selectors representing national REITs and hyperscale operators. The region’s ample brownfield sites and existing transmission infrastructure—legacy assets from its industrial past—make it attractive for energy-intensive uses. Although no major builds have broken ground yet, sources close to regional utilities suggest active discussions about future power allocations and substation upgrades.

Westmoreland Innovation Park: Aligned Data Centers Eyes Expansion

Location: Westmoreland County, near Pittsburgh
Company: Aligned Data Centers (speculative site)
Activity: Land optioning and power interconnection planning

West of the state, the Pittsburgh metro has been on Aligned’s radar, with Westmoreland Innovation Park emerging as a likely candidate for future development. The area’s industrial zoning, water access, and relatively low land costs could support a multi-phase campus aimed at AI training or modular expansion. While still early-stage, Aligned has reportedly engaged regional power cooperatives and university partners, suggesting a long-term play aligned with AI-driven enterprise workloads.

University City Edge Deployments: Life Sciences Meet AI

Location: University City, Philadelphia
Players: Digital Realty, local startups, university initiatives

Edge infrastructure is also seeing traction in Philadelphia’s innovation corridor. A new micro data center deployment near Drexel University—developed in partnership with Digital Realty and local researchers—is supporting precision medicine and AI drug discovery applications. These installations, though modest in capacity, signal a growing convergence of high-performance compute with life sciences R&D.

Takeaway: Pennsylvania’s Power and Proximity Advantage

While Pennsylvania isn’t yet a top-tier data center state, 2025 marks a year of foundational moves. Between hyperscale activity in Berks County, urban infill in Philly, and future-facing site development across the state, the Keystone State is carving out a unique position in the national data center map—where power, land, and latency intersect. Keep an eye on utility planning, state-level incentives, and AI workload demand as key indicators of where the next big groundbreakings will occur.

At Data Center Frontier, we talk the industry talk and walk the industry walk. In that spirit, DCF Staff members may occasionally use AI tools to assist with content. Elements of this article were created with help from OpenAI's GPT4.

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