PA PUC, Team Pennsylvania, and Shapiro Administration Partner on Pennsylvania Accelerated Transmission and Energy Redevelopment Study
Study will evaluate retired power sites and transmission needs to support energy resilience
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Feb. 19, 2026 — The US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) a $2 million grant for the Pennsylvania Accelerated Transmission and Energy Redevelopment (PATER) Study. The PA PUC will partner with Team Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro’s Office of Public Policy, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Programs Office, and the Office of Consumer Advocate to study cost effective opportunities to make grid additions to power our growing economy.
With electricity demand rising at unprecedented levels, the PATER Study will evaluate where energy development efficiencies can be achieved, where new power can be brought online, and how the transmission grid can be modernized for residents and businesses across the commonwealth.
“I’m an all-of-the-above energy Governor, and I am laser focused on bringing more power to the grid while keeping costs down for the good people of Pennsylvania,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Our Commonwealth is already a net energy exporter and a national energy leader. My Administration has built on that strong position of leadership by introducing my Lightning Plan to generate more energy, create more energy jobs, and lower costs for consumers — and at the same time, we’ve brought Pennsylvania utilities and our grid operator, PJM, to the table to discuss significant reforms that will further keep costs down for Pennsylvanians. This study will build on that work by enabling our Commonwealth to identify cost-effective projects and upgrades to bring even more power onto the grid, and more valuable sites back into use.”
Over the course of the next year, the study will evaluate recently retired power generation sites in Pennsylvania, prioritizing those that would be most cost-effective to bring back into productive use due to their existing transmission infrastructure. The study will also investigate and map installed high-voltage transmission infrastructure in the commonwealth, evaluating where new investments would serve to enhance the grid through upgrades or replacements.
“Reliable and affordable electricity is foundational to Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness,” said PA PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank. “As new industries expand and electricity demand increases, we must identify practical ways to bring power online more efficiently. This study will help us better understand where strategic transmission upgrades and redevelopment of retired generation sites can accelerate investment, support job growth, and maintain the high level of service Pennsylvania consumers expect.”
Led by Team Pennsylvania, the study will bring together state agencies and industry partners, ensuring the findings translate into tangible opportunities. The process will conclude with a report outlining the steps needed to strengthen grid reliability and identify redevelopment opportunities that support Pennsylvania’s energy resilience and economic growth.
“Pennsylvania’s energy future depends on our ability to align public leadership with private-sector expertise, and that’s exactly the role Team Pennsylvania was created to do,” said Abby Smith, President & CEO of Team Pennsylvania. “By partnering with the PA PUC and the Commonwealth, we’re helping bring together data, industry insight, and multi-agency collaboration to identify practical, investment-ready solutions that strengthen grid reliability, identify redevelopment opportunities, and support the long-term economic growth of Pennsylvania.”
The PATER Study is designed to help position the commonwealth for future economic growth by modernizing the state’s transmission infrastructure and accelerating redevelopment at former power plant sites and other key locations across Pennsylvania. Using a two-phase, data-driven approach and leveraging PJM’s State Agreement Approach, the study will identify priority sites for transmission upgrades that can attract private investment, draw new energy development, and create jobs in local communities.
The first part of the PATER Study will be completed mid-year and available for public review and comment. The second phase, which will offer a deeper assessment of prioritized power generation facilities surveyed by this initiative, is anticipated to be completed and open for public review by the end of 2026. Supported by federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Transmission Acceleration Grant program, the PATER Study comes at no cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers.
###
To get involved with Team Pennsylvania, visit teampa.com or email info@teampa.com.
For media inquiries, contact news@teampa.com.
About Team Pennsylvania
Team Pennsylvania is a statewide nonprofit working to accelerate Pennsylvania’s long-term economic future. As the commonwealth’s trusted public-private partnership, we bring together leaders from business, government, education, and communities to solve big challenges and seize transformational opportunities.
About the PUC
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.
Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.