PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A pair of bills aimed at giving municipalities more time to come up with rules for data center development took key steps in the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday, with both receiving bipartisan support.
The bills would allow municipalities to put a moratorium on data center development and create policies addressing water and energy use, noise, and other issues. The moratorium would be allowed for up to a year and a half.
“Data centers themselves aren't new. What's new is the scale. Projects of this size demand real time and attention to make sure everything from emergency service capacity to infrastructure adequacy is considered thoughtfully, not after the fact,” said Northeastern Pennsylvania Republican Senator Jarrett Coleman.
Fellow Northeastern Pennsylvania Republican Rosemary Brown argued that’s not enough. She offered an amendment that would apply to data center development across Pennsylvania.
“This amendment would establish a true three-year moratorium — statewide moratorium — providing the Commonwealth and our municipalities the necessary time to develop comprehensive, enforceable protections before additional hyperscale data center projects move forward,” Brown said.
Brown’s amendment failed on a 2-to-9 vote amid questions about its constitutionality and stripping local decision-making.
Coleman’s bill advanced on a 10-to-1 vote.
The committee also unanimously advanced Chester County State Rep. Paul Friel’s bill that would allow municipal governments to implement a 180-day moratorium. Both bills now head to the state Senate floor.
