House committee backs bill sparing communities from 'fake' data center proposals
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee unanimously advanced a bill requiring data center developers to show they have applied for electrical service and paid related fees before presenting proposals to municipalities. A proposed amendment requiring developers to provide their own baseload power and pay all grid-connection costs failed along party lines.
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna County, aimed at filtering out speculative data center proposals. The bill would require developers to provide proof that they have applied for electrical service and paid the associated application costs before bringing a project concept to a municipality.
The committee rejected a Republican amendment from Rep. Craig Williams of Delaware County that would have required data center developers to bring their own baseload electricity generation and cover all grid-connection costs. Williams and Rep. Martin Causer supported the requirement, while Donahue and committee Chairwoman Danielle Fiedler argued it was beyond the bill's narrow purpose and could limit renewable energy options. The amendment failed on a party-line vote.