Shapiro Administration Helps Cut Red Tape for Three Key Energy Projects, Getting New Energy Generation onto the Grid Faster

The three Pennsylvania projects - out of four total projects selected across the PJM region - are expected to add 1.7 gigawatts of generation and storage capacity by mid-2029, enough to power nearly 900,000 homes.

The selection builds on the Shapiro Administration's efforts to speed up permitting, bring more energy generation onto the grid, strengthen grid reliability, and lower electricity costs for Pennsylvanians.

Harrisburg, PA - Three key Pennsylvania energy projects supported by the Shapiro Administration have been selected for PJM's first Expedited Interconnection Track (EIT), a new process designed to help major energy projects connect to the electric grid more quickly. Three of the four projects selected across the PJM region are located in Pennsylvania, representing 68 percent of the total proposed capacity, and are expected to add a combined 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of energy generation and storage capacity by mid-2029 - enough to power nearly 900,000 homes. Two of the three projects are battery storage facilities that will contribute 1.36 GW of clean energy storage capacity, helping strengthen grid reliability, increase the supply of energy, and put downward pressure on electricity costs.

Governor Josh Shapiro has spent years pushing PJM to move faster to connect new energy projects to the grid, strengthen reliability, and protect consumers from rising electricity costs. In January 2026, he joined the 12 other PJM governors and the federal government in issuing a historic Statement of Principles calling for greater affordability, reliability, and meaningful market reform. The EIT advances the broader effort to get more energy online faster and meet growing demand.

"We need to get more reliable energy onto the grid faster to meet growing demand and help protect Pennsylvanians from rising electricity costs," said Governor Shapiro. "I'm an all-of-the-above energy Governor, and that means advancing every source of energy that can help power our homes and businesses. My Administration is working to cut red tape and move projects forward, and these three Pennsylvania projects are an important step to accomplishing that. PJM must continue to move faster to bring new energy resources online, strengthen transparency and accountability, and ensure decisions are made in the best interest of the 67 million people who rely on this grid."

The selection of these projects follows the Shapiro Administration's work to identify projects that can add power to the grid quickly and help them advance through the state permitting process. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) supported the Commonwealth projects through PJM's expedited review process, while DEP is also helping the projects move through permitting efficiently. DEP has hosted initial consultation meetings with each project.

Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, his Administration has taken steps to get more energy generation and storage projects online faster. In April, DEP published a Request for Information seeking energy generation and battery storage projects that could enter service quickly and help prevent higher energy costs for Pennsylvanians, resulting in the projects being announced today.

"DEP is committed to working closely with these projects to ensure they have the permits they need to be ready to provide electricity to the grid by 2029," said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. "DEP continues to advance the Governor's all-of-the-above energy approach, supporting cleaner energy sources and innovative technologies, including battery storage, that can help reduce pollution and strengthen grid reliability. These projects will help ensure that when electricity demand is highest, reliable power is available for homes, critical health facilities, and public safety buildings across the Commonwealth."

"The success of Pennsylvania's economic development strategy is closely tied to its leadership in energy production," said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. "Increasing the energy supply in the Commonwealth reinforces our leadership as the largest power producing state in PJM - helping us continue to win major economic development projects. By accelerating these three EIT projects, the Commonwealth is taking meaningful action to enhance grid reliability and ensure our energy infrastructure meets the needs of Pennsylvania businesses."

Pennsylvania Projects Selected for PJM's Expedited Review Process

PJM created the EIT to help large, ready-to-build projects connect to the grid faster than under its typical review process. The program is designed to support up to 10 eligible projects per year in 2026 and 2027. To qualify, projects must have at least 250 megawatts (MW) of electric capacity, be able to begin operating within three years, and receive support from a state siting authority or governor. Through the EIT, PJM will review projects in approximately 12 months, cutting the typical timeline by more than half.

As of October 28, 2026, PJM approved four projects for the 2026 EIT window. Three of those projects are in Pennsylvania and received support from Governor Shapiro and DCED. The projects include two new battery storage facilities and an expansion of an existing natural gas power plant:

French Creek Storage (Crawford County): Developed by Engie North America, this project will create an 860 MW battery storage facility that can store electricity and release it when demand is high, improving grid reliability and energy availability.

Sammis Project (Beaver County): Developed by Little Blue Solar, this project would add a 500 MW battery storage facility that can store electricity and release it when demand is high, improving grid reliability and energy availability

Hunterstown Expansion (Adams County): Developed by Hunterstown Generation, this project would conduct an update at an existing natural gas power plant, adding 367 MW of generating capacity.

Together, the projects are expected to add 1.7 GW of generation and storage capacity to the PJM region by mid-2029. The need to bring new energy resources online is increasingly urgent. In its July 2026 capacity auction, PJM fell short of its reliability requirement by more than 6.8 GW, despite nearly every available megawatt of electricity clearing the auction. The shortfall underscores the need to accelerate new energy generation and storage as electricity demand grows and projects continue to face delays in PJM's interconnection queue.

Governor Shapiro's Work to Increase Energy Supply and Protect Ratepayers

Governor Shapiro has spent years pushing PJM to modernize its rules, speed up its interconnection process, and protect consumers from unnecessary electricity cost increases. Throughout 2024, he urged PJM to cut red tape, move new energy projects through its interconnection queue faster, reform its capacity market, and improve reliability during extreme weather. When PJM failed to act, Governor Shapiro sued, challenging an auction structure he warned would saddle consumers with billions of dollars in unnecessary costs. That legal action led to a January 2025 settlement, later approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), that significantly lowered PJM's capacity price cap.

The settlement and its subsequent extension have helped protect consumers from billions of dollars in unnecessary energy costs. The July 2026 auction results brought total projected savings to $45 billion across the 13-state PJM region, including more than $2 billion in savings for Pennsylvania homes and businesses in the 2028-29 delivery year alone - an average of approximately $207 per household. Across the PJM region, the settlement is projected to save consumers an average of $800 per household over four years. In April 2026, FERC approved an extension of the price cap for two additional auctions, through 2030.

Protecting Pennsylvanians as Energy Demand Grows

Governor Shapiro is also working to ensure that growing electricity demand - including demand from data centers - does not drive up costs or threaten reliable service for families and businesses. In August, he signed Executive Order 2026-05, establishing the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Requirements for data center developers seeking Commonwealth support. The requirements establish that developers must pay the full cost of the new generation, transmission, distribution, and other infrastructure needed to power their projects.

In October, the Governor also filed a petition to intervene in a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission proceeding involving PPL Electric Utilities, supporting efforts to ensure large data centers pay their fair share of electricity costs and that existing customers are protected from potential reliability risks. The Governor's petition advances his Executive Order's direction to prevent data centers from shifting costs to other electricity customers.

The Governor is also working to make it faster and easier to build new energy projects in Pennsylvania. Through his Lightning Plan and the PA Permit Fast Track Program, the Shapiro Administration is cutting permitting delays and helping new energy projects move forward. These efforts build on Pennsylvania's position as the nation's second-largest energy producer and exporter and support the Administration's goal of bringing more power online while keeping costs down.

Project developers interested in the 2027 EIT window should review and submit projects through the Request for Information from DEP, posted in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

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