The PA Chamber held its Fall DEP Quarterly meeting last week, featuring an energy-focused agenda that explored the rise of AI development in the Commonwealth, the demands on Pennsylvania’s energy sector, and timely updates on energy and environmental regulations.
PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein opened the meeting by emphasizing the need to harness transformational growth across sectors—from data centers and hydrogen hubs to advanced manufacturing and grid modernization. To achieve this, he stressed the importance of sound policy: ensuring regulatory clarity, modernizing permitting processes, and aligning energy strategy with innovation. To support these goals, the PA Chamber Foundation is launching the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute—a statewide platform designed to shape the Commonwealth’s energy future. The Institute will convene leaders from industry, government, and academia to develop a forward-looking energy strategy that fosters innovation, investment, and job creation through public forums, research, and strategic planning.
Andy Bockis, Chair of the PA Chamber’s Energy and Environmental Policy Council, echoed Bernstein’s remarks, noting that Pennsylvania is at an energy crossroads and must rise to the challenge of building and powering its infrastructure.
Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, acknowledged shifting energy demands and expressed concern that uncertainty surrounding the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)—still pending before the PA Supreme Court—is discouraging investment in energy generation facilities. He emphasized the need to ensure sufficient energy supply for everyday consumers, not just industry growth. On the legislative front, Sen. Yaw shared that his committee is working to identify potential sites for new power plants and streamline permitting processes. He also mentioned efforts to establish a mid-point appeal process for permit reviews and voiced support for legislation related to RGGI abrogation, the creation of a statewide Independent Energy Office, a solar bonding bill, and energy choice legislation that would allow consumers to select their preferred energy sources.
John Ryder, Deputy Secretary of Field Operations at the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), shared insights from his recent statewide visits to observe approximately 28 active projects, including data centers attracting significant investment. He praised DEP’s progress in reducing the permit backlog and implementing the SPEED Program, expressing enthusiasm for collaborating with interested stakeholders.
Ryder also provided updates on permit authorization, IT upgrades, and office modernization. He noted that DEP is preparing for a wave of retirements and will need to fill roles through internal promotions, federal recruitment, and external hiring. When asked about improving consistency, Ryder said DEP is focused on enhancing communication with regulatory bureaus and regularly checks in with permit chiefs and supervisors to monitor progress. He added that modernization efforts will accelerate permit approvals and reduce manual handling by shifting to electronic management.
The event concluded with a dynamic roundtable discussion on the future of data centers and AI infrastructure development in Pennsylvania. Panelists included Andy Tubbs, President of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania; Glen Thomas, President of GT Power Group; and Stephen Bennett, Senior Manager of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs at PJM Interconnection. PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Amy Brinton moderated the panel, posing the question: Is Pennsylvania doing enough to harness its AI potential?
Tubbs highlighted Pennsylvania’s competitive advantages over neighboring states and stressed the importance of building on recent successes, such as major recent investments by Amazon and in the Homer City plant. Glen Thomas noted that Pennsylvania generates 46 gigawatts of power (enough to power 800 to 1,000 homes per gigawatt) and that active construction is underway to meet growing demand. He expressed confidence in PJM and the state’s utilities to provide clarity and leadership, stating that while the market is competitive, Pennsylvania has a strong model in place.
Bennett agreed that the state is at a pivotal moment. He reflected on the previously flat energy demand, which allowed for infrastructure expansion, and emphasized that rising demand now requires supportive policies and political will. When asked about PJM’s efforts to offset cost increases from the last auction, Bennett acknowledged the financial challenges but affirmed that PJM’s markets are designed to send transparent price signals to encourage investment. “We’re not trying to suppress the signal,” he said. “It’s properly constructed and includes all necessary elements—this is all investment.”
Tubbs concluded by advocating for an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy strategy—one that engages stakeholders, supports competitive suppliers and customers, and aligns around shared goals. Thomas added that Pennsylvania has successfully leveraged its energy assets and encouraged continued commitment to growth and opportunity, expressing optimism that the state is on the right path.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Institute or getting involved, contact PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Amy Brinton at abrinton@pachamber.org.
The PA Chamber thanks the sponsors of DEP Quarterly for their generous support of this important event: Presenting Sponsor, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.; and Gold Sponsors Eckert Seamans and Bentley Systems.