The small rural community of Homer City, Pa., was named for the ancient Greek poet upon its founding in 1854. But in modern times, this borough has mostly been known for hosting the state’s once largest coal-fired power plant with 1,884 MW of capacity. The aging Homer City Generating Station was also the last of its ilk in Pa., abruptly closing in 2023.  

Plant owners cited competition from cheap natural gas and the cost of EPA compliance as reasons for the shutdown. Plant workers clocked out then packed their bags.

Reese Energy Consulting today is following the latest news from this slice of coal country where a massive change is soon to invigorate Homer City. This time with natural gas-fired power generation. State officials have now announced the largest capital investment project in Pa., history and she’s a doozy. The former coal power plant site is set for transformation into a $10 billion, 3,200-acre data center campus and what will be the nation’s largest natural gas-fired generating station. Marcellus supplies will feed this mammoth of a plant to generate a whopping 4.5 GW of electrical power by 2027.