As Northeast Pennsylvania emerges as a hub for data center projects, local lawmakers are taking action to manage this rapid industry expansion. With many communities in the region witnessing a surge in proposed data center developments, state representatives are considering legislation to regulate and possibly halt further growth.
Legislative Movements and Proposals
State Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna, is actively pursuing legislative solutions. “There has to be a bunch of different avenues that we have to try to explore and take legislatively,” he said. Donahue’s House Bill 2151 aims to establish guidelines for local ordinances on data centers, while state Rep. Kyle Mullins’ House Bill 2150 seeks to mandate reporting of energy and water usage by developers.
Another legislative effort includes state Sen. Katie Muth’s forthcoming bill, supported by Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe County. This moratorium legislation would temporarily halt hyperscale data center development for three years, allowing for comprehensive research and planning.
Community Concerns and Legislative Responses
Sen. Brown, representing parts of Lackawanna, Wayne, and Monroe counties, notes the proliferation of data center proposals in her district, including six in Archbald alone. Despite a year of investigation, she expressed ongoing concerns about the data center sector: “I understand there’s economic development involved here…but I do think that the priorities and the safety of the residents and the resources that we have take first priority.”
Brown’s “Residents First” legislative package aims to mitigate potential impacts by requiring utility assessments and restricting data centers to industrial zones, among other measures. Meanwhile, Rep. Mullins emphasizes the importance of transparency, advocating for the “Data Center Energy and Water Reporting Act” to ensure public access to data center resource usage.
Guidance for Local Governments
Rep. Donahue’s district, covering Covington and Clifton townships, is another focal point of development. His bill proposes a model zoning ordinance from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to assist municipalities in managing data center impacts.
Donahue highlighted the need for state-level support: “We don’t want to, as a state, come in and say ‘municipalities should do this, this or this.’ It’s an optional tool to really just give them the options of what might work best for their situation.”
Path to Legislation
The journey from bill proposal to law involves multiple steps, starting with committee review. Both House Bill 2151 and 2150 recently advanced from the House Energy Committee. If approved by the Pennsylvania House, these bills will proceed to the Senate for further consideration before potentially reaching the governor’s desk for approval.
