Pennsylvania Senator Calls for Urgent Vote on Data Center Moratorium Bills
Pennsylvania municipal leaders and a state senator are calling for the state legislature to reconvene and pass two bipartisan bills (HB 2496 and SB 1345). These bills would grant local municipalities the authority to implement moratoriums on data center applications, allowing them time to update zoning laws and develop effective policies to manage rapid hyperscale data center development.
Pennsylvania State Senator Malone, along with municipal leaders, is urging the state legislature to reconvene its session to address the rapid development of data centers. They emphasize that hyperscale data center technology is advancing faster than local officials' ability to understand its impacts and create appropriate policies and controls.
Two bipartisan bills, House Bill 2496 (Democrat-sponsored) and Senate Bill 1345 (Republican-sponsored), are currently under consideration. Both bills aim to provide local municipalities with the power to enact moratoriums on data center applications. HB 2496 would allow a 180-day moratorium, while SB 1345 would permit an 18-month pause. This would enable local governments, like East Hempfield Township which is actively working on an ordinance, to update their zoning laws and systems to responsibly accommodate data center development and mitigate potential negative impacts on constituents.
Senator Malone is pushing for these bills to be passed before the next scheduled legislative session, as data center proposals are already being considered statewide. Senate Bill 1345 still requires final consideration in the Senate and passage through the House, while House Bill 2496 awaits final consideration and the Governor's signature. FOX43 News reports that attempts to reach the Senate President pro temp and Senate Majority Leader for comment were unsuccessful.