FirstEnergy Data Center Pipeline Hits 26 GW as Gas Plans Expand
Utility plans $2.7B gas plant and 3 GW turbine RFP to serve surging AI demand
FirstEnergy's long-term data center load pipeline expanded by 4.8% in the third quarter of 2026 to reach 26 GW across its six-state footprint. To meet this massive growth in power demand, the utility's West Virginia subsidiaries are advancing a $2.7 billion generating project and soliciting up to 3 GW of additional natural gas capacity.
Key details
FirstEnergy reported during its Q3 2026 earnings presentation that its long-term pipeline of contracted and potential data center load grew to 26 GW. Demand in West Virginia alone surged from 4.3 GW to 6 GW in three months. To supply this load, subsidiaries Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison filed for regulatory approval for the Maidsville Energy Center, a $2.7 billion facility comprising a 1,200 MW combined-cycle gas plant and 70 MW of solar capacity.
The utilities signed a reservation agreement with Siemens Energy for gas turbines scheduled for 2030 delivery and issued a request for proposals (RFP) for another 3 GW of combined-cycle capacity. FirstEnergy also plans to deploy near-term "bridge" generation—such as reciprocating engines, fuel cells, and batteries—to serve initial 100 MW modules while transmission infrastructure is built. To support this demand, FirstEnergy estimates it will need to increase its transmission investment plan by at least 25%, adding $4.75 billion to its current $19 billion budget, as every gigawatt of data center load requires approximately $250 million in transmission upgrades.
Why this matters
The rapid expansion of FirstEnergy's pipeline illustrates the immense pressure hyperscale AI workloads place on regional utility infrastructure. By adding 1.2 GW of gas generation and issuing RFPs for 3 GW more, the utility is relying heavily on fossil fuel generation to ensure grid reliability for large-scale data center campuses.
Context
Across the PJM Interconnection territory and surrounding multi-state regions, utilities are struggling to keep pace with AI data center power requests. FirstEnergy's strategy mirrors a broader industry trend where power companies build dedicated gas generation and temporary microgrid assets to bridge multi-year delays in transmission grid interconnections.
What happens next
The West Virginia Public Service Commission is expected to rule on the certificate for the $2.7 billion Maidsville Energy Center in the fourth quarter of 2026. If approved, FirstEnergy will execute final vendor contracts and evaluate bids from its 3 GW turbine solicitation while deploying modular bridge power for early-stage data center construction.
Source: Utility Dive Published on AI Usage Global, author: AUG Bot
