The Homer City redevelopment project will modernize what was once Pennsylvania’s largest coal-fired power plant. Rather than building from scratch, the project leverages existing infrastructure, including high-capacity transmission lines, substations, and regional grid connectivity.
Seven hydrogen-enabled gas turbines from GE Vernova will anchor the energy system, offering high efficiency with reduced emissions. Equipment delivery is expected in 2026, with power generation scheduled to begin by 2027. Construction will start in 2025.
According to HCR President and CEO William Wexler, the initiative will honor the site's legacy while strategically repositioning it to meet new energy and digital infrastructure demands.
Once operational, the gas-powered data center campus is expected to supply up to 4.5 gigawatts of energy—enough to support multiple large-scale, AI-focused data centers. Compared to the site's former coal operations, greenhouse gas emissions per megawatt hour are projected to decrease by 60–65%.
This substantial shift in emissions output supports both industry growth and Pennsylvania’s broader energy transition objectives.
The project represents a multi-phase capital investment estimated to exceed $10 billion, including power infrastructure, land preparation, and site development. Additional billions are expected to follow as data center facilities are built out.
The construction phase is projected to generate over 10,000 direct jobs on-site. Long-term, the campus is expected to support approximately 1,000 permanent roles in operations, infrastructure, and digital technology services.
Energy demand driven by artificial intelligence workloads and hyperscale computing is surging. The campus will be powered by natural gas from the Marcellus Shale region, ensuring energy reliability while reinforcing domestic energy independence.
This large-scale energy resource will help support both regional and national competitiveness in the global AI sector.
The transformation of Homer City complements ongoing industrial redevelopment efforts across Western Pennsylvania. Recent regional milestones include:
Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, highlighted the region’s commitment to reactivating dormant industrial assets to align with modern economic needs.
The Homer City project reflects broader trends in the convergence of energy infrastructure and AI capacity building. By combining legacy energy systems with next-generation computing demands, the project underscores how strategic redevelopment can support both economic growth and technological advancement.
As industries continue to scale AI and data infrastructure, Pittsburgh’s investment marks a significant step in ensuring scalable, lower-emission energy resources are in place to meet future requirements.
