Data centers, legalizing marijuana top issues at Back Mountain Chamber event

News ClipTimes Leader·Dallas, Luzerne County, PA·5/1/2026

State and federal legislators in Pennsylvania discussed data center development and recreational marijuana at a Back Mountain Chamber event. Concerns about data center energy and water consumption, zoning policies, and environmental impacts were central. Proposed legislation includes an 18-month moratorium and the Pennsylvania Ratepayer Protection Act, while Governor Shapiro's administration has introduced Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards.

electricitywatermoratoriumzoninggovernmentenvironmentallegal

Gov: U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, State Rep. Brenda Pugh, State Rep. Jamie Walsh, State Rep. Alec Ryncavage, State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, State Sen. Lisa Baker, State Rep. Jim Haddock, Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State Department of Environmental Protection, Public Utility Commission, Local Government Commission, Shapiro Administration

State and federal legislators gathered at the Back Mountain Chamber's annual Legislative Breakfast in Dallas, Pennsylvania, on Friday to discuss key issues, primarily data center development and the legalization of recreational marijuana. The event brought together about 100 local business leaders, elected officials, and community members.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, addressed the data center issue, acknowledging it as a