Construction of the largest natural gas-powered energy facility currently under construction in the United States is now going vertical
New gas insulated switchgear building is the first structure to rise on the Homer City Energy Campus
Homer City Redevelopment, LLC (HCR) today announced “first steel;” the commencement of vertical construction at the Homer City Energy Campus. The milestone, also known in the industry as “going vertical,” follows completion of extensive underground foundation work, and marks a visible and meaningful shift in the trajectory of what is the largest natural gas-powered energy facility currently under construction in the United States.
The first structure to rise from the site is the Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) building, a steel-framed facility that will house the high-voltage electrical equipment connecting the campus to the PJM grid. Its steel frame is the opening act of a construction sequence that will accelerate significantly in the months ahead, including tank deliveries, heat recovery steam generator housings, and the assembly of turbine infrastructure tied to the facility’s seven high efficiency advanced class 7HA.02 natural gas turbines from GE Vernova, which are expected to be delivered beginning later this year.
“As we begin vertical construction, today’s milestone sets us on schedule and continues the journey to delivering new economic opportunities to Indiana County, the state of Pennsylvania, and beyond,” said Corey Hessen, CEO of Homer City Redevelopment, LLC. “In this new phase, our neighbors and partners will begin to see the physical dimension and scale of our project.”
Going vertical introduces an increased focus on construction site safety. With crane operations intensifying and suspended overhead loads now a constant factor, HCR and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. (Kiewit), one of the leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors in the country, have implemented enhanced protocols, including daily rigging equipment inspections, load beam certification, and clearly defined exclusion zones beneath active lifts.
Throughout its first year of construction, the Homer City Energy Campus has maintained a zero-OSHA-recordable-incident record, a standard both partners are committed to sustaining as the work grows in scale and complexity.
“Kiewit is pleased to mark this transition in the project,” said Brian Reinhart, Vice President of Kiewit Power Constructors Co. “Beginning above ground construction work with the GIS enclosure structural steel signifies an important step toward successful project delivery. As our skilled craft professional numbers grow each day, our crews remain focused on maintaining a safe and reliable work environment.”
Managing a workforce of more than 1,000 skilled tradespeople across multiple disciplines requires a level of coordination that both HCR and Kiewit have built into the fabric of daily operations. Each morning, foremen from every trade – including electricians, carpenters, boilermakers, and others – convene to review the “Play of the Day,” which includes active tasks, upcoming work, and any “critical evolutions” requiring dedicated safety planning. HCR and Kiewit share an operational discipline which is enabling a project of this scale to move with both speed and precision.
Knighthead Capital Management, on behalf of its clients (Knighthead), originated this project more than eight years ago and leads financing for it. To date, more than $1 billion has been funded into construction, exceeding the total revenue generated by the coal plant in its final five years of operation. Knighthead’s overall commitment to the HCR project represents the largest private capital investment in Pennsylvania history.
“Connecting our campus to the PJM grid is the moment America’s energy future becomes visible to the world,” said Andrew Shannahan, a partner at Knighthead and HCR Board Member. “As the project goes vertical, our vision that Homer City can serve as a national model for advanced power generation is taking shape in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.”
About Homer City Redevelopment, LLC
Homer City Generating Station began operations in 1969, employing thousands with jobs and providing millions of customers with energy during its more than 50 years of operations. Located only 50 miles east of Pittsburgh, the facility was the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania and is directly connected to both the PJM and NYISO transmission systems. The power plant was permanently decommissioned on July 1, 2023. The Homer City Generating Station has been revitalized through reinvestment and the creation of Homer City Redevelopment, LLC. Working with committed and quality partners, HCR is vested in turning the old plant into something positively transformative.
For more information, visit: www.homercityredevelopment.com or email press@homercityredevelopment.com.
About Kiewit
Kiewit is one of North America's largest and most respected construction and engineering organizations. With its roots dating back to 1884, the employee-owned organization operates through a network of subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Guam. Kiewit offers construction and engineering services in a variety of markets including power; transportation; industrial; water; oil, gas and chemical; marine; building and mining. Kiewit had 2025 revenues of $18.2 billion and employs 34,500 staff and craft employees. For more information, visit www.kiewit.com.
About Knighthead Capital Management
Knighthead Capital Management, LLC was co-founded in 2008 by Thomas Wagner and Ara Cohen and has grown to become a diversified asset management platform with an experienced team of investment professionals, specializing in fundamental analysis, operational and financial turnarounds and risk management. Knighthead’s long-term objective is to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its clients while emphasizing the preservation of capital. Knighthead manages assets across a variety of investment vehicles including insurance asset management, real estate lending, and closed and open-ended vehicles.
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