Walsh, Benscoter face off for state House in 117th District
Pennsylvania state House candidates Jamie Walsh and Jeremy Benscoter both support moratoriums on data center development. They say municipalities need time to establish local zoning and address concerns about electricity demand, water use, non-disclosure agreements and local control.
Candidates Jamie Walsh, the Republican incumbent, and Democrat Jeremy Benscoter are competing for Pennsylvania's 117th House District seat, which includes communities in Luzerne County. Both candidates said they support a temporary moratorium on data center development while municipalities develop rules for siting and regulation.
Walsh backs legislation that would allow municipalities to impose an 18-month moratorium, repeal the sales-tax exemption for data center equipment and give local governments greater authority to reject unwanted facilities. Benscoter supports a proposed three-year moratorium and raised concerns about facilities drawing water from aquifers, trucking in water, relying on large amounts of electricity or using modular nuclear reactors. The candidates' data center positions were discussed alongside broader views on taxes, education, utilities and public safety in the election profile.