Lawmakers and local residents grapple with data center 'gold rush'

The Pennsylvania State House has advanced two bipartisan bills aimed at regulating the burgeoning data center industry, which lawmakers like Democratic Rep. Kyle Mullins of Lackawanna County characterized as a "reckless gold rush." One bill, sponsored by Mullins, would mandate annual water and energy consumption reports from data centers to the state. The second bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Kyle Donahue, also of Lackawanna County, proposes that the state Department of Community & Economic Development create a model ordinance to guide municipalities grappling with data center development. Both bills have moved to the Republican-controlled Senate for further consideration. Meanwhile, in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, residents are preparing for a Planning Commission meeting to discuss a substantial data center proposal, which includes three six-building campuses spread across 700 acres. Resident Beth Eby, whose property directly faces the proposed site, voiced concerns about potential noise, prolonged construction, and the loss of her scenic mountain view, fearing it would negatively impact her property value. Republican state Rep. Barb Gleim, also a nearby resident, supported the consumption reporting bill, acknowledging the need to understand data center resource use, though she remained neutral on the specific Middlesex proposal, noting that the land is unlikely to return to agriculture. The legislative efforts highlight a statewide attempt to establish "responsible guard rails" for the industry, while local communities like Middlesex Township are directly contending with the immediate implications of large-scale data center projects on their environment and quality of life. The model ordinance bill, while supported by many, faced opposition from some Republican representatives, including Rep. Martin Causer and Rep. Jesse Topper, who argued against a "one size fits all" approach for diverse municipalities.