AWS explores data center development at 4.5GW natural gas plant in Pennsylvania

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is evaluating the potential development of a data center campus adjacent to a planned natural gas power plant in western Pennsylvania, according to local reports and company statements. The move is part of the cloud giant's broader commitment to invest at least $20 billion across the commonwealth, as it seeks to secure dedicated power supply for its expanding infrastructure footprint.

The site in question is the Homer City Redevelopment project, a 4.5GW natural gas-fired power plant under construction on a 3,200-acre parcel in Center and Blacklick townships, roughly 50 miles east of Pittsburgh. The plant, expected to come online in 2028, could become the largest natural gas-powered facility in the United States upon completion. The property previously hosted the Homer City Generating Station, a 2GW coal plant that operated from 1969 until its retirement in 2023 and was once the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania.

An Amazon spokesman confirmed that the company is in discussions with Homer City Redevelopment, though no definitive agreement has been reached. "As part of our commitment to invest at least $20 billion in Pennsylvania, we are evaluating multiple sites across the commonwealth. While we don't have a definitive agreement in place, we are in discussions with Homer City Redevelopment," the spokesman said. The talks were first reported by TribLive, which obtained details through freedom of information requests. Specific plans for any data center development at the site have not been disclosed.

The Homer City Redevelopment project was announced last year, with data centers identified as a key target customer. Knighthead Capital Management is helping finance the project. Homer City Redevelopment declined to comment on the discussions.

AWS has been actively expanding its data center presence in Pennsylvania. Since early 2024, the company has pursued development in Salem Township, where it acquired an existing data center from Talen Energy along with approximately 1,200 acres of land adjacent to Talen's nuclear power plant. AWS aims to develop up to 15 buildings at that location. The company has also been scouting additional sites in Falls and Kline Townships.

The potential co-location of a hyperscale data center with a large natural gas plant underscores a growing trend in the industry: securing reliable, behind-the-meter power in an era of constrained grid capacity. As AI workloads and cloud demand surge, operators are increasingly seeking direct power agreements with generation developers to accelerate deployment timelines and reduce transmission bottlenecks. If realized, the Homer City project would represent one of the largest examples of a data center tied to a dedicated gas-fired generation source, potentially serving as a template for future developments in energy-rich regions across the U.S.