Redding and Thompson weigh in on data center in agriculture
Pennsylvania officials and lawmakers are debating the placement of data centers, particularly advocating against building them on prime agricultural land. Proposals include state-level prohibitions on agricultural land development and federal and state moratoriums on data center construction. The discussion highlights a balance between economic competitiveness and protecting farmland.
Leaders in agriculture and elected officials convened at Penn State’s annual Ag Progress Days to discuss the contentious issue of data center development, particularly concerning their location on prime farmland. U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, chairman of the federal House Agriculture Committee, and Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding both expressed strong opposition to building data centers on prime agricultural lands, suggesting alternative sites like abandoned mine sites in Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Marla Brown, R-Lawrence, has authored a proposal to prohibit data centers on agricultural land. Furthermore, state Sen. Katie Muth, D-Chester, is advocating for a three-year moratorium on data centers in Pennsylvania. At the federal level, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have announced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Moratorium Act, proposing an immediate federal moratorium. While supporting farmland protection, Redding and Thompson cautioned against a complete halt to development, emphasizing the importance of state and national competitiveness in data management.