Natalie Transmission Project (PPL Electric Utilities, Mount Carmel area)

PPL plans a Natalie substation and 16 miles of high-voltage lines for a data center customer

Developer

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, the Allentown-based utility subsidiary of PPL Corporation

Tenant

PPL hasn't named the customer. PJM slides describe a customer that asked for a 230 kV source near Mt Carmel, with load growing from 290 MW in 2028 to about 2,000 MW by 2033.

Current stage

PPL presented the customer's request to PJM on April 7, 2026 and its Natalie substation solution on September 8, 2026, and it told Mount Carmel Township about the project by email on October 21, 2026, hours before the supervisors met. The project still needs Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approval, and we didn't find a PUC application. Mount Carmel Township's supervisors voted 3-0 on October 21, 2026 to oppose it, and PPL has scheduled a public open house in Elysburg for early November.

Decision body

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (siting approval), with planning review at PJM Interconnection's Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee

Top issues

Easements and possible eminent domain on private land, monopoles up to about 210 feet tall, scenic views and natural resources, how costs would be split between the data center customer and other electric customers, and the township's complaint about a lack of disclosure from PPL.

Key opponents

Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors, which adopted a resolution opposing the project on October 21, 2026

Key supporters

None named in the public record.

• 2026-04-07PPL tells PJM a customer has asked for a 230 kV source near Mt Carmel for a facility whose load would grow from 290 MW in 2028 to about 2,000 MW in 2033, with service requested by June 2028. PJM Interconnection
• 2026-09-08PPL presents its solution to PJM, a new Natalie 500-230 kV substation tied into existing 230 kV and 500 kV lines, estimated at $408 million with a projected in-service date of December 30, 2029. PJM Interconnection
• 2026-10-21PPL emails Mount Carmel Township about the Natalie Transmission Project around 2 p.m. on the day of the supervisors' meeting, according to Chairman Aaron Domanski. The News-Item
• 2026-10-21Supervisors vote 3-0 for a resolution opposing the project and asking PPL for details on easements and costs and for a public meeting in the township. The News-Item
• 2026-10-23The News-Item reports PPL's fact sheet on about 16 miles of new 230 kV and 500 kV lines and a substation, with construction planned from spring 2028 to early 2031. The News-Item

• 2026-04-07
  PJM supplemental project need and solution PJM Interconnection Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee · PPL-2026-0029

  Natalie 500-230 kV Substation to serve a customer's request for a 230 kV source near Mt Carmel, estimated at $408 million

  PPL Electric Utilities; unnamed customer · Need presented April 7, 2026 and solution presented September 8, 2026; not in PPL's posted 2026 local plan as of September 17, 2026

• 2026-10-23 The News-ItemPPL proposes 16-mile transmission project to serve data center in Mount Carmel areaLays out the line lengths, tower heights, schedule and open house, and reports the township's 3-0 vote to oppose the project.