Sen. Malone, Local Leaders Call For Senate to Return to Session to Vote on AI Data Center Moratorium
Senator James Malone and local leaders in Pennsylvania are urging the state Senate to reconvene to vote on two bills proposing an 180-day or 18-month moratorium on AI data center construction. This action aims to give municipalities time to update their zoning laws and address concerns over noise, water, and electricity demands from hyperscale data centers. The call for legislative action stems from local communities feeling overwhelmed by the rapid pace of data center development.
Senator James Malone (D-Lancaster), alongside various local leaders, recently held a press conference advocating for the Pennsylvania Senate to return to session promptly. Their primary objective is to advance two critical bills, House Bill 2496 and Senate Bill 1345, which would empower municipalities with the option to enact a data center moratorium ranging from 180 days to 18 months.
The proponents, including West Hempfield Township Manager Andrew Stern and Manheim Township Board of Commissioners President Carol Gifford, emphasize the urgent need for local control over hyperscale data center development. They highlight significant community concerns regarding increased noise, substantial water consumption, and a massive surge in electricity demand, which has already contributed to rising utility rates for residents. Local officials, represented by Heather Zink of the Lancaster County Boroughs Association, stressed that the rapid technological advancements in data centers are outpacing municipalities' ability to update zoning ordinances and effectively regulate this new land use.
Senator Malone clarified that the initiative is not aimed at halting data center progress entirely but rather at providing local governments sufficient time to establish proper zoning laws, standards, and public input processes. He urged Senate President Pro Tem Kim Ward and Republican Senator Majority Leader Joe Pittman to call an immediate session to vote on the bipartisan-supported bills, which he believes will pass if brought to the floor. The current legislative calendar has the Senate returning in late September, a delay local leaders deem unacceptable given the ongoing development pressures.