Pennsylvania Representatives Push for Data Center Legislation, Moratoriums
State Representatives Jamie Walsh and Brenda Pugh are urging the Pennsylvania Senate to act on several House and Senate bills addressing concerns over unchecked data center expansion. These legislative proposals aim to increase transparency, eliminate tax exemptions, and grant local municipalities the power to enact temporary moratoriums on data center projects, specifically to mitigate impacts on property values, utility rates, noise, light pollution, and water consumption.
State Representatives Jamie Walsh (R-Ross Township) and Brenda Pugh (R-Dallas Township) are advocating for legislative action in the Pennsylvania Senate regarding the rapid and unchecked expansion of data centers. The representatives, whose constituents have expressed concerns over uncertainty, lack of transparency, and risks to their communities, are pushing for state-level protections to address impacts on property values, utility rates, noise, light pollution, and water consumption.
The House has already passed several bills to tackle these issues. House Bill 2359 seeks to enhance transparency by revoking equipment tax benefits for data centers over 10 megawatts if they withhold information from the public. House Bill 2198 aims to abolish the sales and use tax exemption currently enjoyed by data centers. Additionally, House Bill 2496 would empower municipal leaders to enact a six-month moratorium on data center applications, with amendments clarifying local land-use and zoning authority and the ability to use existing curative amendment processes consecutively.
Walsh and Pugh urged the Senate to bring these bills to a vote upon its return to session on September 28. They also highlighted Senate Bill 1345, introduced by Senator Jarrett Coleman, which would allow townships and boroughs to enact an 18-month moratorium on high-impact data centers (25 megawatts or more). The representatives emphasized that these measures are crucial for giving communities a voice and protecting residents from the potential negative effects of hasty data center development.