PA lawmaker wants to protect our water supply from data centers
A Pennsylvania state representative plans to introduce legislation to safeguard the state's water supply from data center operations. The proposed bill would require data centers to replace or restore water resources impacted by their activities, similar to existing regulations for the natural gas industry.
Pennsylvania State Representative Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) intends to introduce legislation aimed at protecting the state's water supply from potential impacts of data center operations. The proposed bill would mandate that data centers operating within Pennsylvania replace or restore water supplies that are polluted or depleted due to their activities.
Benninghoff drew parallels to the state's experience with the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom in the early 2000s and 2010s, which led to the General Assembly passing Act 13 of 2012 to ensure responsible energy industry operations, including water supply protections. He acknowledged the potential for data centers to bring jobs and investment but stressed the importance of proactive environmental safeguards as the Commonwealth faces a new technological revolution.