In 138th, educator Jared Bitting in rematch with incumbent Ann Flood
The 138th Pennsylvania House District includes competing data center proposals in Upper and Lower Mount Bethel townships, including a potential 1.2-gigawatt, $5.5 billion facility. The Upper Mount Bethel proposals have faced widespread opposition, while developers have filed zoning validity challenges; Democratic candidate Jared Bitting supports a moratorium and stronger data center regulations, while incumbent Ann Flood has a mixed legislative record on the issue.
The 138th House District election between Republican incumbent Ann Flood and Democratic challenger Jared Bitting is being shaped in part by proposed data center development in Northampton County. Two Upper Mount Bethel projects would include 29 buildings across about 900 acres, while an informal proposal in Lower Mount Bethel calls for a 1.2-gigawatt, $5.5 billion facility on a site recently reduced from 450 to 350 acres.
The Upper Mount Bethel proposals have drawn widespread resident opposition, prompting township supervisors to retreat from initial support. Developers have filed zoning validity challenges against the township’s zoning laws. Bitting says he opposes new data centers and supports a one-year municipal moratorium while zoning is reviewed, along with requirements addressing energy use, community engagement and environmental protections. Flood voted for legislation allowing a six-month pause on development and supported repealing data center tax incentives, but opposed bills requiring energy and water reporting, stricter standards for tax incentives and a model zoning ordinance.