Pennsylvania Farm Bureau calls for data center moratorium

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has formally called for a temporary moratorium on data center development throughout the state, as detailed in a recent policy paper authored by state board director Andy Bater. The bureau argues that this pause is essential for lawmakers to thoroughly research the extensive impacts of these facilities on communities, establish better resources for rural areas targeted for development, and enhance protection for farmland from adverse effects.

The paper highlights significant concerns regarding data center infrastructure, including the construction of transmission lines, power plants, and advanced cooling systems, which can lead to compact soil, altered drainage, and damage to conservation systems on agricultural land. Bater, who visited affected rural communities in Luzerne, Fayette, and Union counties, emphasized that the agricultural impact extends beyond the acreage occupied by the facility itself. He also brought up the issue of eminent domain, advocating for updates to provide fair compensation, referencing Pennsylvania Senate Bill 225 introduced by Senator Cris Dush.

Additional impacts requiring further study, according to the report, include water usage and noise pollution, which can disrupt livestock. Bater pointed out that small, rural communities often lack the staff and resources to develop complex data center policies while simultaneously responding to major development proposals, potentially leading to a loss of experienced agricultural voices in crucial decision-making processes.

While acknowledging existing state efforts like Governor Josh Shapiro's GRID standards and the PUC's large load tariff, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau insists that a temporary moratorium is critical to allow the state to develop a more comprehensive and coherent regulatory framework before data center development and its associated infrastructure become even more challenging to manage.