PA House passes bill allowing municipalities to pause data center considerations
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill allowing state municipalities to implement a six-month pause on data center applications. This measure enables local governments to update their land-use ordinances, assess water and energy usage, and ensure thorough community scrutiny of proposed data center projects. The bill now advances to the state Senate for further consideration.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed House Bill 2496, a significant piece of legislation aimed at empowering local governments to manage data center development. The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester), would allow municipalities across Pennsylvania to implement a six-month "pause" on considering any data center application.
During this temporary halt, local governments would have the opportunity to thoroughly research, draft, and pass comprehensive land-use ordinances specific to data centers. This includes evaluating critical demands such as water and energy use, as well as addressing other potential community impacts. The bill's cosponsors, including State Reps. Kyle Mullions (D-Lackawanna), Kyle Donahue (D-Lackawanna), and Chris Pielli (D-Chester), emphasized the need for greater local oversight and transparency, noting that current planning codes are insufficient to address the rapid expansion of data centers.
The legislation is designed to prevent a "race to file" by developers, ensuring that communities have adequate time to develop informed regulations that protect public safety and quality of life. House Bill 2496 will now proceed to the state Senate for further consideration.