Bipartisan desire to tap brakes on data center development grows
Bipartisan support is growing among Pennsylvania's elected leaders to pause data center development. State Senator Katie Muth has introduced a bill for a three-year moratorium on data centers requiring 20 MW or more, citing concerns over electricity, water use, and local control. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and other senators also advocate for a pause to allow municipalities to update zoning and ensure ratepayers are not burdened.
Pennsylvania is seeing growing bipartisan support for a pause in data center development, driven by concerns over energy, water, and local zoning control. State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester County), with Republican co-sponsors Senators Rosemary Brown (Monroe County) and Elder Vogel (Beaver County), and Democratic Senator Carolyn Comitta (Chester County), has filed a bill proposing a three-year moratorium on data centers consuming 20 megawatts or more. This moratorium would also cover associated infrastructure like new power plants and transmission lines.
Senator Muth stated the moratorium is necessary to prevent companies from draining water, consuming electricity, raising costs, and threatening local control. Republican gubernatorial candidate and current State Treasurer Stacy Garrity also called for a "pause" to allow municipalities to update zoning and other ordinances to protect ratepayers. While Governor Josh Shapiro has supported AI and data centers, he has also proposed standards for accountability and transparency. Senator Brown highlighted a lack of preparedness and knowledge in communities, with over a dozen data center proposals in her district alone. She has also introduced a legislative package requiring "will serve" letters from utilities, limiting large-scale data centers to industrial zones, and mandating water impact studies before applications are filed.