Pa. House panel passes proposals on data center costs, utility company profits
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced three bills aimed at preventing data center development from shifting infrastructure and electricity costs onto residential customers. The proposals would also require developers to demonstrate commitment before seeking zoning approval and address backup generator emissions and data center decommissioning.
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced three measures responding to rising electricity costs linked to anticipated data center growth. One bill would require data centers to pay for utility infrastructure upgrades, curtail electricity use during peak demand, and meet emissions standards for backup generators. Another would require investor-owned transmission companies to participate in PJM Interconnection and eliminate a related customer-funded profit incentive.
A third measure, sponsored by state Reps. Kyle Donahue and Elizabeth Fiedler, would require data center developers to apply for electric service and pay associated fees before seeking zoning approval, an effort to reduce speculative land-use applications. The committee also approved resolutions directing studies of data center heat reuse and the environmental, fiscal and local-government impacts of decommissioning facilities. Supporters hope the proposals will receive full legislative approval during the remaining session.