Pennsylvania House Panel Advances Data Center Cost and Utility Profit Bills
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced bills intended to prevent data center construction from shifting infrastructure costs and electricity price increases onto residential customers. Other proposals would require developers to demonstrate commitment before seeking zoning approval and would study data center heat reuse and decommissioning impacts.
The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced three measures addressing the effects of rapid data center growth on electricity customers and local governments. House Bill 2828 would require data centers to pay for utility infrastructure upgrades they trigger, curtail power use during peak demand and meet emissions standards for backup generators. House Bill 2755 would require investor-owned transmission companies to participate in a regional transmission organization, potentially eliminating a customer-funded profit incentive.
A third measure, House Bill 2775, would require data center developers to apply for electric service and pay related fees before seeking zoning approval. The bill passed the committee unanimously, subject to changes requested by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. The committee also advanced studies on reusing data center heat and the environmental, fiscal and local-government consequences of decommissioning facilities.