Pennsylvania Budget Includes Mandate for Data Centers to Report Water and Energy Use
Pennsylvania's recently passed state budget includes a new provision requiring data centers to annually report their energy and water use to the Department of Environmental Protection, with reports made public. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation supports this measure as a step towards greater oversight but advocates for further
Pennsylvania's newly enacted $50.8 billion General Fund budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro, contains a significant provision impacting data centers across the commonwealth. According to Alex Johnson, communications and media relations manager at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), the budget now mandates that data centers annually report their water and energy consumption to the Department of Environmental Protection, with these reports subsequently made public.
The CBF views this as a crucial initial step to address growing concerns about data centers' environmental footprint in Pennsylvania, including their substantial use of public water resources, increased electricity demands, and noise/air pollution from diesel generators. Julia Krall, CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director, stated that while the reporting requirement is a move in the right direction, more comprehensive