Regulators Warn Data Centers Threaten Grid

Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission warned Monday that the data center boom could leave the regional electric grid short of power as soon as 2027.

An independent analysis by Synapse Energy Economics found that on current PJM forecasts, and absent new policy, the grid fails PJM’s reliability standard every year from 2027 through 2030. By 2030, the modeled risk is nearly six times what the standard allows. In the study’s severe scenario, new data center demand in 2029 and 2030 alone would exceed the current electricity use of all of Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is at an energy crossroads,” PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank said, calling for urgent action at PJM and a broader state energy strategy so supply keeps pace with demand.

The warning came the same day President Trump dismissed calls to slow AI development, posting that there is a “SICK conspiracy” against AI and data centers and that only China benefits. He was responding to weekend appeals from Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Elon Musk for greater government oversight.

SEPTA Gets $80M for Station Upgrades

SEPTA has won an $80 million federal grant to make three Center City trolley tunnel stations accessible for the first time since they opened in 1955.

The money, from the Federal Transit Administration’s All Stations Accessibility Program, will pay for elevators, raised platforms, and wayfinding at the 22nd Street, 33rd Street, and 36th Street stations, all of which can be reached today only by stairs.

SEPTA says it will piggyback on planned track and wire outages to avoid the kind of yearlong closure now underway at 11th Street on the Market-Frankford Line, a $44 million job partly funded by the same program.

The award is part of a $233 million federal package for eight transit projects in five states. It follows a separate $96 million in rail-car replacement money announced earlier this month—$82.8 million for Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light-rail fleet and $13.3 million toward SEPTA’s 50-year-old Silverliner IVs.

First Taste of Fall Arrives

Pennsylvania woke up to its first real taste of fall Monday, and Tuesday brings more of the same before summer makes one more run.

The cool air didn’t arrive quietly. Sunday morning’s storms brought a flash flood warning to four southeastern Pennsylvania counties, leaving a car stuck in floodwater in Lansdowne and forcing SEPTA’s D2 trolley onto shuttle buses, while western Pennsylvania saw severe thunderstorm warnings that evening. Highs sit in the low to mid 70s Tuesday, with mornings in the 40s across the northern tier, before heat returns midweek.

Color typically starts in Pennsylvania’s northern tier in late September before most of the state peaks from late October into early November.

Fall officially arrives at 8:05 p.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 22, and Harrisburg sees its last 7 p.m. sunset until spring two days later.

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➤ Statewide: The CDC said Sunday it hadn’t been told of Saturday’s Jefferson County measles death and that Pennsylvania has never requested federal outbreak help. (More)

➤ Metro Philly: School districts around Philadelphia are pulling devices from their youngest students and capping screen time in a growing backlash against classroom technology. (More)

➤ Washington County: The stormwater pipe collapse that swallowed part of South Strabane’s fire station parking lot Saturday flooded the station and forced firefighters to evacuate about 80 people nearby. (See Video)

➤ Beaver County: Freedom Area School District evacuated all of its schools Monday after a fourth emailed bomb threat since the school year began. (More)

➤ Philadelphia: A Philadelphia police officer will be fired for leaving a man in the street minutes before an Aug. 27 Olney hit-and-run killed him. Police identified the victim as Eugene Beauford, 48. (See Details)

➤ Luzerne County: The Luzerne Foundation awarded $993,000 in scholarships to local students for the 2026-27 school year, nearly $1 million pooled from community donors. (More)

➤ Penn State climbed to No. 14 in the AP Top 25 after its 27-9 win at Temple, up two spots from last week. The Nittany Lions were scoreless in the first quarter before running off 27 straight points, and host Buffalo on Saturday. (More)

➤ Flyers prospects swept the Rangers’ rookies over the weekend, with Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and Porter Martone each posting a goal and an assist. All three look ready for main camp, which opens Thursday. (More)

➤ Joe David stepped down Monday after 25 seasons as head coach of the Mt. Lebanon boys basketball team, ending a run of three WPIAL titles and 444 wins. He called it an “extremely difficult decision.” (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer

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➤ Coffee vs Hot Cacao vs Green Tea:  Which of these hot drinks was proven in a study boost stem cells by 220% in 30 days?  Billionaires drop 6 figures on stem cell therapy, but this hot drink costs 50 cents a day and boosts anti-aging stem cells improving heart health, blood pressure, and longevity.

➤ Little Movie Store will open in South Philadelphia this October, stocking 7,000 DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K discs, VHS tapes and even LaserDiscs on its shelves. (See Details)

➤ Diesel prices hit a record national average of $6.23 a gallon Monday, up from $3.69 a year ago and $5.43 last month, with some Northeast Pennsylvania truck stops charging $7. (More)

➤ Fillmore Farm Café & Gardens has reinvented the former RE Farm Café near State College as an everyday spot since taking over in March, with counter-service weekday breakfast and lunch and Italian-leaning weekend dinners. (More)

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➤ The Luzerne County Fair wrapped up Sunday with live music, a full slate of events, and the crowning of a Lake Lehman junior as fair queen. Organizers say a “Christmas at the Fair” event with Santa is coming in December. (More)

➤ More than 30 sailboats will race the Delaware River in the Philadelphia Cup Regatta Oct. 3, with free viewing along the Penn’s Landing waterfront. (More)

➤ The York History Center’s 52nd annual Fall Oyster Festival, its biggest fundraiser of the year, is set for Oct. 18, with White Rose Bar & Grill signing on as sponsor. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ These 10 ways to save money could put thousands back in your pocket. (Hear List)

➤ Owning a car now costs thousands a year beyond the loan payment, and one expense is climbing fastest. (Hear Details)

➤ Celine Dion returned to the stage after years of silence forced by an incurable neurological disorder. (Listen Now)

Who’s the greatest quarterback Western Pennsylvania ever produced?

1. Joe Montana
2. Dan Marino
3. Johnny Unitas
4. Joe Namath
5. Jim Kelly

Yesterday’s Results:

Billy Blanks got the key to Erie. Which workout craze did you actually try?

1. Sweatin’ to the Oldies: 32%
2. Tae Bo: 26%
3. Other: 24%
4. Jazzercise: 13%
5. The ThighMaster: 4% 

Which Pennsylvania city served as the capital of the United States for exactly one day?

Show me the answer