As data centers spread in Pa., lawmakers are proposing guardrails. Community activists want a moratorium

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a series of bills to establish guardrails for data center development amid a rapid expansion of facilities across the state. This legislative push comes as community activists from 15 groups plan to rally at the state capitol, advocating for a three-year moratorium on new data centers, citing concerns over increased energy bills, noise, and water pollution. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has already passed three related bills. HB 2150 would mandate annual reporting on energy and water consumption by data centers, with penalties for non-compliance. HB 2151 aims to create a model zoning ordinance for communities, addressing issues like noise limits. HB 1834 focuses on financial responsibility, preventing utilities from passing data center operational costs to consumers and requiring security deposits and energy assistance contributions from facility owners. Despite the progress in the House, the future of these bills reaching Governor Josh Shapiro's desk remains uncertain, with several other related bills pending. Representative Kyle Donahue (D-Lackawanna), sponsor of HB 2151, acknowledges community desire for outright bans but emphasizes the need for legally sound regulations, drawing parallels to past issues with fracking. Local opposition is strong in areas like Limerick Township, Conshohocken, and Pennhurst, where petitions against proposed facilities have garnered thousands of signatures. A recent Quinnipiac poll indicates widespread public disapproval, with 68% of Pennsylvania voters opposing data centers in their communities. Residents and advocates highlight the enormous water and electricity demands of data centers. Tammy Murphy, public policy and advocacy manager with Make the Road PA, argues for a moratorium to allow communities time to assess long-term impacts, questioning the sustainability of the current "gold rush" driven by companies like Palantir and Nvidia. Representative Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna), sponsor of HB 2150, stresses the importance of transparency from developers, believing many municipalities are unprepared for these projects. As the legislative debate continues, activists fear the proposed guardrails may not be sufficient to address their concerns.