Pa. House passes bills to regulate data center development
Bills would require annual energy and water reporting from data centers and provide municipalities an optional model ordinance to manage local impacts.
With concern about the growing number of data centers being proposed around the state, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday voted to pass legislation aimed at protecting communities from the impacts of such development.
While data center developments can drive economic growth, opponents are concerned that such centers consume large amounts of energy and water.
House Bill 2150, sponsored by Rep Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna, passed 133-68. This bill aims to boost transparency by establishing annual energy and water reporting requirements for data center facilities.
It also requires the state Department of Environmental Protection and Public Utility Commission to jointly issue an annual report on the impacts of data center water and energy use.
House Bill 2151, sponsored by Rep Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna, passed 124–77.
The bill requires the bipartisan, bicameral Local Government Commission to develop an optional model ordinance, which municipalities could use to regulate data centers. He said these resources can be critical for municipalities which lack the time or financial ability to craft an ordinance from scratch.
“Many communities throughout the Commonwealth currently lack consistent guidelines to manage issues like noise, facility size, water consumption and other effects data centers may have on nearby neighborhoods,” Donahue said. “House Bill 2151 would offer municipalities an optional framework to help ensure data centers are placed and operated responsibly while safeguarding residents’ quality of life.”
These bills are part of a larger effort to address the impacts of data centers in Pennsylvania.
In March, the House passed the Protect Our Families Act, H.B. 1834, which prevents ratepayers and small customers from footing the bill for large data center electricity demands.
That bill, which was referred to the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, awaits consideration.
Additional legislation to protect Pennsylvanians may be considered this spring.