Pa. House passes bills to enact GRID standards, let municipalities pause data center developments
The Pennsylvania House recently passed two bills with bipartisan support. One bill, if enacted, would allow municipal governments to impose 180-day moratoriums on data center developments. The other links existing development incentives to environmental protections and community benefits, as advocated by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The Pennsylvania House recently passed two significant bills with bipartisan support that address data center development across the state. House Bill 2496, which passed with a 201-1 vote, proposes to grant municipal governments the authority to enact 180-day moratoriums on new data center development proposals. If signed into law, this measure would allow local jurisdictions to temporarily pause projects.
Separately, another measure, supported by Gov. Josh Shapiro, seeks to connect existing development incentives with environmental protections and community benefits. This bill aims to ensure that future developments contribute positively to local environments and communities. Environmental activists have also been calling for tighter restrictions on development in the state.