State candidates stake out positions on data centers

Candidates for the Pennsylvania state legislature are taking clear stances on data center development, highlighting it as a significant issue for voters in the upcoming May 19 primary. Two key bills, HB 2150 and HB 2151, which address water and power disclosure and offer a model ordinance for municipalities, have passed the House but are pending in the Republican-led Senate. While some candidates, like Walsh, voted against these bills for not going far enough, others, such as Haddock, supported them as crucial first steps. Concerns among candidates and residents include the depletion of electric and water supplies, potential increases in utility costs, noise, and environmental impacts. Several candidates are pushing for stricter regulations, with some, like Walsh and Lake, proposing bills that would allow municipalities to enact moratoriums on data center development. Other recommendations include confining data centers to industrial zones or brownfields, implementing setbacks, and requiring developers to fund infrastructure upgrades and post bonds for performance and decommissioning. There's a strong emphasis on preserving local control over zoning decisions and ensuring transparency through independent impact studies. Dan Diorio, Vice President of State Policy for the Data Center Coalition, which includes Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, argued that data centers are vital for national security and provide jobs and tax revenue. However, political scientist Matthew Thornburg noted that while benefits are diffuse, negative impacts are concentrated in communities where data centers are built. The debate underscores a growing tension between economic development and community concerns about environmental impact and quality of life.