GOP Rep. Brett Miller votes in support of bill to require water use restrictions for data centers

State Rep. Brett Miller, representing East Hempfield Township, diverged from his Republican colleagues to support a Democratic state House bill that mandates water use reporting for data centers in Pennsylvania. House Bill 2246, which passed the House on April 27 with a 116-84 vote, would require data centers to notify the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of their water needs before construction and provide ongoing daily, monthly, and annual usage estimates post-construction. Miller stated his vote was aimed at protecting residents from limited water access and high rates, emphasizing the bill as a "reasonable starting point" for municipalities to safeguard their water resources against data center demand. Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery), the bill's prime sponsor, highlighted the importance of holding data centers accountable for their impacts on water availability, water quality, and energy costs. The Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce opposed the legislation, warning that it could introduce uncertainty and drive data center developers to other states. This vote by Miller contrasts with his earlier rejection of a different bill that sought to regulate data centers by requiring them to fund electric transmission network upgrades, add new power generation, and use 32% clean energy by 2035. Miller explained he opposed that bill due to concerns it would increase consumer energy costs, advocating instead for a GOP-backed alternative that would require data centers to build their own electricity generation facilities to prevent cost offloading.