Democrats Smith, Leard competing to take on Pugh in 120th state House race

Democratic primary candidates Fern Leard and Joanna Bryn Smith, running for the 120th state House District, outlined their legislative priorities, including their positions on data center development in Pennsylvania. The candidates are competing to challenge incumbent state Rep. Brenda Pugh, a Republican. Leard, a political activist from Dallas Township, advocates for a three-year statewide moratorium on new data center development. She proposes using this period to establish enforceable statewide standards covering energy use, water consumption, infrastructure impact, and community protections. Leard also emphasized the need for stricter local ordinances, including zoning, setback requirements, and noise standards, to prevent data centers from straining the electric grid, increasing utility costs, and impacting water systems. Smith, a Luzerne County councilwoman and attorney from Wyoming, criticized Rep. Pugh for voting against bills that would hold data centers accountable for their energy use. Smith expressed support for existing "commonsense guardrails" passed by Democrats in the State House, which aim to ensure local municipalities retain decision-making power over data center futures while holding developers responsible for energy and water usage.