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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed House Bill 1834, a significant piece of legislation designed to regulate the increasing energy consumption and environmental footprint of large data centers within the PJM Interconnection region. The bill, now advanced to the state Senate for consideration, mandates that data centers progressively source their electricity from new, in-state clean energy sources, starting at 10% in 2027 and escalating to 32% by 2035. Lawmakers introduced the measure in response to rapidly growing electricity demand, particularly driven by data center expansion. Key provisions include requiring high-energy users, such as data centers, to contribute financially to energy assistance programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Furthermore, the legislation aims to prevent the passing of new electricity infrastructure costs onto residential customers and small businesses, while also establishing operational standards to alleviate grid strain and reduce pollution from emergency backup power generation. Supporters, including Tom Schuster of the Sierra Club's Pennsylvania chapter, view the bill as a crucial initial step in establishing oversight for a rapidly expanding sector. However, Schuster also noted that while the bill provides important safeguards for reliability and consumer protection, it may not fully address the long-term scale of issues related to energy costs, grid reliability, and environmental impact, suggesting further legislative action may be necessary.