AWS Eyes 4.5 GW AI Data Center Hub at Former Pennsylvania Coal Plant
The proposed Homer City Energy Campus would repurpose a decommissioned power station into one of the largest gas-powered AI hubs in the U.S.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is eyeing a potential data center development at a massive energy project in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The initiative aims to transform the decommissioned Homer City Generating Station into a high-capacity hub designed to meet the extreme power requirements of generative AI and high-performance computing.
The project, known as the Homer City Energy Campus, will be situated on a 3,200-acre site. To provide the necessary electricity for hyperscale operations, the campus will utilize seven GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines, capable of generating up to 4.5 GW of power. While AWS is considering development at the site, the primary partnership for the power infrastructure is between Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) and Kiewit Power Constructors.
Repurposing Industrial Brownfields
This development follows a growing industry trend of converting "brownfield" industrial sites—specifically retired coal plants—into AI data center hubs. By utilizing the former Homer City Generating Station, developers can leverage critical existing infrastructure that would otherwise take years to build from scratch. Specifically, the site already possesses essential transmission lines connected to the PJM and NYISO power grids, providing a streamlined path to distribute massive amounts of energy to the Mid-Atlantic region.
The AI Power Crunch
The sheer scale of the proposed 4.5 GW capacity underscores the escalating energy crisis facing the tech industry. Generative AI models require significantly more power than traditional cloud computing, forcing hyperscalers to seek out sites with unprecedented energy access. If realized, the Homer City project would stand as one of the largest natural gas-powered data center projects in the United States, fundamentally altering the regional energy landscape and providing a significant economic catalyst for Indiana County.
Future Outlook
William Wexler, President and CEO of HCR, stated that the project will honor the site's history in Pennsylvania energy generation while helping the local community meet the needs of a "rapidly shifting energy landscape." While the infrastructure plans are concrete, the exact nature of the partnership with AWS remains a point of interest rather than a finalized agreement. Observers will be watching for formal lease agreements or construction timelines as AWS determines if the site fits its long-term infrastructure roadmap.