This week in politics: How Schuylkill County’s legislators voted
Schuylkill County legislators voted on several bills this week, including two significant pieces of legislation concerning data center development in Pennsylvania. HB 2650 proposes strict standards for data centers seeking tax breaks, while HB 2496 allows municipalities to impose a 180-day pause on data center applications for zoning development. Both bills passed the House and are now heading to the Senate for consideration.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed two bills aimed at regulating data center development across the state. These bills, HB 2650 and HB 2496, are now advancing to the Senate.
HB 2650, titled "Creating Strict, Enforceable Controls on Data Center Development in Pennsylvania," seeks to mitigate local community impact. This legislation proposes that data centers wishing to receive tax breaks must adhere to specific standards. Developers would be required to prove they will bring clean energy without increasing local consumer rates, communicate with municipal governments regarding water and energy needs, contribute jobs and investment to the region, and protect the environment. Compliance with these four standards would be assessed annually, with non-compliant developers expected to repay abated taxes. The bill passed the House with a vote of 134-68.
HB 2496, known as "Zoning Consideration Period for Data Centers," aims to preserve community input in data center development. It provides municipalities with the option to implement a 180-day pause on data center applications, allowing time for local zoning ordinances to be developed. This bill passed the House with a substantial vote of 201-1. Both bills reflect a legislative effort to establish more rigorous oversight and control over the rapidly expanding data center industry in Pennsylvania, giving local governments more power in the development process.