A viral segment on The Tucker Carlson Show claimed that officials in Homer City, Pennsylvania warned that a local energy and data center project would raise electricity prices and cause blackouts. An investigation by AllSides found those claims are not supported by public records and local representatives deny the attribution.
The clip, titled "They Are Already Warning Us..." with text overlay reading "Be Prepared. The Grid is Going Down," featured YouTuber Clayton Morris of Redacted News making assertions about the Homer City Generating Station project. The segment has accumulated over 739,000 views on X and 6,100 likes on YouTube.
The $10 billion project involves converting a former coal-burning power station in Indiana County into a natural gas-powered campus that will generate electricity for both residential customers and data centers. According to the project's website, construction is expected to commence this year with first turbine deliveries from GE Vernova beginning in 2026; power production is anticipated by 2027.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive media critics argue that unverified claims about grid reliability contribute to unnecessary public alarm about legitimate infrastructure development. They note that Governor Josh Shapiro issued an executive order specifically designed to address concerns about data center energy costs, requiring such facilities to pay the extra electricity-system costs they create rather than shifting them to regular customers.
The Shapiro administration framework also prohibits electric utilities from passing data center costs onto households or businesses, mandates that data centers pay for their own grid connections, and requires developer approval from local officials before projects can proceed. Supporters say these protections demonstrate that Pennsylvania is actively managing the situation rather than allowing unchecked development.
Progressive commentators have pointed to this episode as an example of how viral misinformation can spread faster than fact-checking, arguing that audiences should seek verification from multiple sources before accepting dramatic claims about infrastructure impacts on their communities.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative voices note that concerns about data center energy consumption represent legitimate public interest. They argue that skepticism toward large-scale development projects and assertions of government oversight reflects healthy democratic engagement rather than misinformation.
Some conservative commentators have defended Tucker Carlson's approach as consistent with his populist editorial stance, which focuses on questioning major corporations, governments, and elite institutions. They contend that raising awareness about potential grid vulnerabilities serves a valuable watchdog function even when specific claims require further verification.
Others within conservative media have suggested the segment highlights genuine concerns about energy policy decisions affecting Pennsylvania communities, arguing that local residents deserve thorough examination of how large industrial projects might impact their electricity costs and service reliability regardless of whether the specific attribution in this instance was accurate.
What the Numbers Show
The Homer City Generating Station, located approximately 50 miles east of Pittsburgh, was decommissioned in 2023 after operating as a coal-burning facility. The conversion project represents a $10 billion investment led by Knighthead Capital Management.
According to AllSides reporting: no public officials from either Homer City Borough or Center Township are on record stating that current energy prices have increased due to the data center project, nor has any governing body officially warned of impending blackouts. Representatives of Homer City Borough confirmed to AllSides that local officials are not involved with the energy project in any capacity.
The Tucker Carlson Show segment containing the disputed claims has over 739,000 views on X and more than 8,000 likes. A separate YouTube clip containing the claim received over 6,100 likes before removal or reduction in visibility.
The Bottom Line
The AllSides investigation illustrates how specific factual claims attributed to public officials can spread widely online without verification. In this case, the municipality named in the segment (Homer City) is not the jurisdiction where the project is located (Center Township), and representatives from both localities have denied that local officials are on record making the cited warnings about price increases or grid failures.
Pennsylvania has implemented regulatory requirements through executive order requiring data centers to bear their own electricity-system costs. The actual project remains in construction phases, with power production not expected until 2027. Audiences encountering dramatic claims about infrastructure impacts may benefit from identifying specific sources and seeking confirmation from official records before sharing unverified information.