Lauded for its continued investments and job creation to support growth in eastern and central Pennsylvania, PPL Electric Utilities received national recognition as one of Site Selection magazine’s top utilities for economic development.
Last year, PPL Electric supported 20 projects — ranging from manufacturing to agriculture, distribution, technology and life sciences operations — representing more than $12.8 billion in capital investment and 1,775 new jobs, company officials said.
“This recognition belongs to all of our dedicated employees and partners who work every day to help our communities compete, grow and prosper,” Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities, said in a news release. “By providing reliable electric service, planning for future energy needs and working closely with businesses and local partners, we are helping create the conditions for good jobs and long-term investment.”
Site Selection — an international publication — covers corporate real estate, facility planning and economic development.
Locally, businesses that completed or announced projects in PPL Electric’s service territory in 2025 included Cressona-based Hydro Extrusions North America, which completed a manufacturing expansion; Tremont-based Espoma Organics, which completed a new fertilizer manufacturing facility; and Olyphant-based Kolmar, a cosmetics manufacturing company, which opened a new $60 million facility in Scott Twp., PPL officials said.
Additionally, Amazon Web Services’ operational data center campus in Salem Twp. marked PPL Electric’s first connection of a hyperscale data center customer to its transmission system.
Data center construction in Salem Twp. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
John Augustine III, president and CEO of Penn’s Northeast, a regional economic development agency, said the nonprofit has a long, positive relationship with PPL.
“We’re thrilled PPL has been recognized nationally for the work and investment they have made and continue to make in our region,” he said. “They are one of the biggest economic development proponents in the region and a major partner of ours. PPL was one of the founding organizations that helped create Penn’s Northeast more than 20 years ago.”
PPL Electric’s Business and Economic Development team works with state and local organizations, site selectors, developers and prospective businesses to evaluate sites and better understand electric service needs, company officials said. PPL also coordinates with its engineering and system planning teams to provide businesses with clearer information about potential service options, costs and timelines.
“More and more companies, especially with the grid being in the shape it is, are looking for infrastructure investment and reliability,” Augustine said. “PPL has made a point of making sure they are constantly investing in upgrades as well as partnering with others to add power to the grid. PPL shines in terms of investing in new technology, upgrades, and reliability which helps attract companies like Amazon because the power plant can produce all the power that they want, but if there’s not reliable infrastructure to bring that power then it’s kind of pointless.”
Augustine noted Amazon completed two buildings in Salem Twp., with two others under construction, and plans to build 10 to 12 more.
“Amazon is currently under construction and operating — there are hundreds of tradespeople working there,” he said.
Augustine believes the positive buzz surrounding PPL bodes well for potential future projects in the region.
“The biggest thing for us, as economic developers, is it affirms what we tell people … that northeastern Pennsylvania and Lackawanna County is a great place to do business,” he said.