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Released October 28, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Will Ploch, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)
Summary
The company warns peak load on the PJM Interconnection, which it serves, could grow by as much as 48 GW, or 30%, by 2035
"The company deployed over $4 billion in capital investments through the first nine months of 2025 and is increasing its planned investments from $5 billion to $5.5 billion this year," FirstEnergy said in a quarterly earnings-related press release. "FirstEnergy also affirmed its 6% to 8% compounded annual core earnings growth rate target from 2025 through 2029. This growth is supported by the company's Energize365 capital investment plan, which includes $28 billion in investments from 2025 to 2029."
Brian Tierney, the chief executive officer of FirstEnergy, said his company recently submitted its capital-spending proposals for Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia to the PJM Interconnection Board, which is expected to award transmission projects for the next five years by the first quarter of 2026.
"These proposed investments include several new and upgraded substations and high-voltage lines needed to support the increasing customer demand," Tierney said. "Any projects awarded to FirstEnergy in this open window will be included in our new five-year plan."
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can learn more about these 10 segments--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--from a list of detailed project reports.
Industrial Info is tracking five singular and multi-phase data center proposals for the northwestern and western areas of Pennsylvania that would be served by the Erie South-Piney and Piney-Seward rebuild projects. These proposals comprise 27 separate projects, totaling as much as $14.5 billion of investment. Subscribers can learn more about these proposals from a list of detailed project reports.
By the Numbers
West Virginia is home to power-generation projects on both sides of the resource fence. An upgrade to the wastewater treatment system at the coal-fired Harrison Power Station in Haywood will help to keep the plant operational, while FirstEnergy also is proposing a solar plant at the Wylie Ridge Substation in Weirton, which is part of the state's Northern Panhandle. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Haywood and Weirton projects.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for active and proposed projects from FirstEnergy.
Key Takeaways
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Summary
The company warns peak load on the PJM Interconnection, which it serves, could grow by as much as 48 GW, or 30%, by 2035
Bracing for Long-Term Demand Increase
FirstEnergy Corporation (Akron, Ohio) is preparing for a years-long buildout of transmission and distribution (T&D) capacity in its service area, which covers portions of the U.S. Northeast, Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions. The company warns the expected growth in data centers will drive some of the strongest demand increase the region has seen in decades. Industrial Info is tracking more than $2.39 billion worth of active and proposed projects from FirstEnergy, nearly 90% of which is attributed to T&D projects in the PJM Interconnection."The company deployed over $4 billion in capital investments through the first nine months of 2025 and is increasing its planned investments from $5 billion to $5.5 billion this year," FirstEnergy said in a quarterly earnings-related press release. "FirstEnergy also affirmed its 6% to 8% compounded annual core earnings growth rate target from 2025 through 2029. This growth is supported by the company's Energize365 capital investment plan, which includes $28 billion in investments from 2025 to 2029."
Brian Tierney, the chief executive officer of FirstEnergy, said his company recently submitted its capital-spending proposals for Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia to the PJM Interconnection Board, which is expected to award transmission projects for the next five years by the first quarter of 2026.
"These proposed investments include several new and upgraded substations and high-voltage lines needed to support the increasing customer demand," Tierney said. "Any projects awarded to FirstEnergy in this open window will be included in our new five-year plan."
Keystone State is Key
Among FirstEnergy's largest proposed developments are the Erie South-Piney and Piney-Seward Rebuild Projects in western Pennsylvania. The 148-mile transmission line "must be rebuilt due to its physical condition and current design," according to the company, and will comprise 10 segments varying from eight to 21 miles in length.Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can learn more about these 10 segments--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--from a list of detailed project reports.
Industrial Info is tracking five singular and multi-phase data center proposals for the northwestern and western areas of Pennsylvania that would be served by the Erie South-Piney and Piney-Seward rebuild projects. These proposals comprise 27 separate projects, totaling as much as $14.5 billion of investment. Subscribers can learn more about these proposals from a list of detailed project reports.
By the Numbers
- FirstEnergy expects 2025 capital expenditures to total $5.5 billion
- The company expects to invest a total $28 billion from 2025 to 2029
- About half of that total is slated for T&D projects, a 30% increase from its previous four-year window
More Solar is Coming, but Coal Isn't Going Away
Tierney offered details on FirstEnergy's long-term power-generation plans: "Key aspects of the plan include adding 70 megawatts of utility-scale solar in 2028; adding 1.2 gigawatts of dispatchable, gas combined-cycle generation around 2031; keeping our Fort Martin and Harrison coal plants operational through the planning period; and using short-term power purchases to bridge the gap until new resources are online."West Virginia is home to power-generation projects on both sides of the resource fence. An upgrade to the wastewater treatment system at the coal-fired Harrison Power Station in Haywood will help to keep the plant operational, while FirstEnergy also is proposing a solar plant at the Wylie Ridge Substation in Weirton, which is part of the state's Northern Panhandle. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the Haywood and Weirton projects.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for active and proposed projects from FirstEnergy.
Key Takeaways
- Data centers will drive much of FirstEnergy's T&D development in the PJM area
- The company recently submitted spending proposals for Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia to the PJM Board
- Solar, combined-cycle gas and coal make up the company's power-generation plans
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
