Voters guide: Hear from the candidates running to represent Centre County in the PA House
Centre County candidates for the Pennsylvania House addressed whether the state should regulate the environmental, energy, water and land-use impacts of data centers. Their responses ranged from supporting statewide ratepayer protections and environmental safeguards to emphasizing local control and municipal zoning authority.
Candidates running for Pennsylvania House seats representing Centre County discussed data center regulation in a Centre Daily Times voter guide. Several candidates supported state standards addressing electricity costs, energy reliability, emissions, water use, farmland protection and resource reporting, while also seeking to preserve a role for local municipalities under the Municipal Planning Code.
One incumbent cited votes for legislation requiring data centers to cover the cost of new electricity generation and giving municipalities tools such as model zoning ordinances and the ability to pause development. Another candidate said the state should establish baseline protections while allowing communities to set additional terms. Incumbent Rep. Benninghoff emphasized local control, while noting support for temporary moratorium requirements, self-supplied energy and water recycling for cooling systems.