Chester County Lawmakers Push New Data Center Restrictions
Four Chester County lawmakers are backing Pennsylvania House Bill 2888, which would impose new electricity, water, environmental, reporting and community-benefit requirements on large hyperscale data centers. The bill is pending in the House Energy Committee and would supplement, but not replace, municipal zoning authority.
Four Chester County representatives—Chris Pielli, Kristine Howard, Melissa Shusterman and Danielle Friel Otten—are sponsoring legislation that would create statewide requirements for hyperscale data centers in Pennsylvania. House Bill 2888 would require qualifying facilities to plan for sufficient electricity capacity, disclose energy and water use, meet clean-power standards and prepare water-management plans that could include hydrogeological studies and monitoring.
The proposal would also require new or expanding facilities to provide community-benefit plans involving at least $250 million in investment, 200 prevailing-wage construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs meeting specified wage standards. Developers would negotiate with host municipalities over impacts including noise, traffic, emergency response and local financial contributions, while municipal zoning authority would remain intact. The bill was referred to the House Energy Committee on Nov. 4 and has not received a vote, leaving its legislative future uncertain.