(WHTM) — Few lawmakers in Harrisburg seem willing to oppose data centers, even as their constituents pack local council meetings to rally against them.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R) and President Donald Trump came together last year to embrace cutting red tape to speed up the developments. Even while attempting to assuage voters who fear them, legislators have insisted the state will get data centers.

At the center of voters’ concerns is whether they’ll foot the bill for the facilities. Rapid expansion of data centers has strained the electric grid, raising costs for residents who live nearby.

House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) said the state has to balance economic growth with the cost of living during an appearance on “This Week in Pennsylvania.”

“When we look at our bills that are coming in right now, when we’re going to the gas station right now, people are upset,” McClinton said.

The speaker said lawmakers are focused on regulating the facilities, which most communities have not yet zoned for. She pointed to House Bill 1834, which passed last week, that would establish temporary regulations and require the Public Utility Commission to bar energy companies from passing the cost of infrastructure updates associated with data centers to consumers.

Some say that’s red tape that will make developers averse to setting up shop in Pennsylvania, chasing away economic development.

McClinton said she didn’t doubt that, but “companies that want to be here, they have to be able to shoulder the burden of those costs.”

Every week, “This Week in Pennsylvania” gives a comprehensive look at the week’s biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories.

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