Pa. House committee advances bills targeting data centers, electricity costs
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced several bills addressing data center development, electricity costs and grid infrastructure. The measures would require data center developers to secure electricity services before zoning approval and pay infrastructure costs associated with their projects, including a Corscale proposal in Swatara Township.
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced legislation aimed at managing the state’s rising electricity demand and the impact of data centers on utility costs. HB2775 would require developers to arrange electricity service and pay related fees before seeking zoning approval, while HB2828 would require data centers to cover infrastructure upgrades and reduce operations first during grid emergencies such as blackouts or brownouts.
Committee members also advanced HB2755, which would require electric distribution companies to participate in a regional transmission organization and remove an incentive that supporters say increases consumer costs. Rep. Kyle Donahue described the data center bill as a way to distinguish viable projects from speculative proposals, while Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler said developers should bear the costs of infrastructure needed to serve them. Corscale, a Texas-based data center developer and operator, has purchased property in Swatara Township and plans to build a facility there.