PPL Venture Plans 2 GW Power for Pennsylvania Data Center
Invitium Energy, a joint venture of PPL and Blackstone Infrastructure, will supply about 2 GW of generation capacity to QTS's Salem Township data center.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Data Centers
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Invitium Energy agreed to supply approximately 2 GW of generation capacity to QTS for its data center project in Salem Township, Luzerne County. The agreement was announced during PPL's webcast for its 2026 third-quarter earnings.
Why it matters
The projects are intended to help meet rising energy demand while strengthening the PJM grid. PPL's data center pipeline, which includes 8.5 GW under construction, highlights growing power needs for Pennsylvania.
The generation portfolio includes two combined-cycle natural gas plants complemented by fuel cells and battery storage, with the final mix still being finalized. Fuel cells and battery storage could be online as early as 2029, while the gas units are expected in 2032 and 2033.
The players
PPL Corporation
PPL Corporation is a Pennsylvania-based utility holding company headquartered in Allentown that owns PPL Electric Utilities and holds a 51% stake in Invitium Energy.
Blackstone Infrastructure
Blackstone Infrastructure is the infrastructure investment arm of the global asset manager Blackstone, which partners on energy and data center power projects.
The details
Invitium Energy is a joint venture in which PPL holds a 51% stake, formed with Blackstone Infrastructure to build, own, and operate power plants for data centers in Pennsylvania. The agreement serves the QTS data center project in Salem Township, Luzerne County.
Timeline
2026 third quarter: PPL reported third-quarter earnings and announced the agreement.
2029: Fuel cells and battery storage could come online.
2032 and 2033: Combined-cycle natural gas units are expected online.
Market Landscape
The agreement reflects a broader push by utilities and private infrastructure investors to build dedicated generation for data centers within the PJM grid. It positions PPL alongside Blackstone as a developer of new power supply tied directly to large digital loads.
Residents and businesses in the PJM region may see grid planning shaped by large data center loads. The new generation is designed to help meet rising energy demand, though fuel cells and battery storage could not come online before 2029.
The takeaway
Large data center projects are increasingly paired with dedicated generation, which can shape regional power supply planning. Watch for the final generation mix and timing of each phase as the projects move forward.
Further reading
For more on the sites driving this demand, see Data Centers coverage across Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFMZ.
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