BRYN MAWR, PA — Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) has entered into an agreement with International Electric Power III, LLC (IEP) to invest in a large-scale data center development in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The project spans 1,400 acres and is designed to support the growing energy and cooling demands of hyperscale data centers driving artificial intelligence growth.
Through its subsidiary Aqua, Essential plans to design, build, and operate an 18 million gallon-per-day water treatment facility using raw water from the Monongahela River. The plant will supply both the power generation facilities and the data center’s extensive cooling systems. In addition, Essential’s natural gas subsidiary, Peoples, will provide consulting and energy management services to the project.
The data center will be powered by 944 megawatts of behind-the-meter natural gas combined cycle combustion turbines, supplemented with battery storage and backed by an interconnection with the regional power grid. Manufacturing slots for the turbines have already been secured, with delivery scheduled for 2028.
“This is an exciting partnership that provides us the opportunity to leverage our expertise both in water and natural gas and highlights our capabilities as we work with hyperscalers to facilitate the growth of data centers to power the new age of Artificial Intelligence, here in Pennsylvania,” said Chris Franklin, chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities.
IEP, the project developer, highlighted the site’s advantages, including its river access, available land, and local dark fiber infrastructure. “Essential’s unique expertise in water, wastewater, and natural gas makes them an ideal partner to ensure we have the power and water needed to bring this data center to life,” said Peter Dailey, CEO of IEP.
The Greene County facility is expected to begin operations in early 2029. Essential said the project aligns with broader efforts to attract AI-related investment to Pennsylvania and reinforces the company’s strategy to integrate its water, wastewater, and gas expertise into next-generation infrastructure projects.
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