Bill allowing Pennsylvania communities to place pause on data centers passes through house

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Every day there is a new story surrounding data centers and their future in Pennsylvania and now three different representatives have written bills that aim to continue restricting data center developers that hope to build in the commonwealth.

The common goal of many of these bills is to help put more of the power in the hands of local municipalities and governments to make decisions regarding data centers.

“Whether we need them or not, the industry is telling us we need it. But we need to understand it a lot more,” said Representative Joe Ciresi. “I think there needs to be a lot more education on what these data centers are and what they’re doing, where they’re building in Pennsylvania or in Maryland or in Virginia.”

Ciresi’s bill, House Bill 2359, would disallow local governments from entering non-disclosure agreements with data centers.

Two bills regarding data centers have already passed through the state house with a bipartisan majority. They will be now be considered in the Senate.

House Bill 2496, proposed by Rep. Paul Friel (D-Lackawanna), would allow municipalities a pause period of 180 days while they develop proper ordiances and protections.

House Bill 2650, proposed by Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) would certify Gov. Josh Shapiro’s GRID concept and establish guidelines for developers seeking tax incentives.

“I think all three need to pass,” Ciresi said. “We need to give the power back to our communities and the people, and we need to let them know that these are supported. They have the right to decide what goes into their community. And the guidelines should be strong and these three bills strengthen that for them.”

The Data Center Coalition is worried that implementing too many restrictions would turn developers away from Pennsylvania.

“Data centers and investment will flood out of the state,” said Dan Diorio, Vice President of State Policy, Data Center Coalition. “Dollars will flow to other states. Jobs will flow to other states. It creates uncertainty and it creates unpredictability. And it basically would shut down Pennsylvania as a data center market.”

It’s a risk the coalition said is not worth taking.

“If you can go across the border to Ohio or down to Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, even, you know, you’re still going to be on the same grid. Pennsylvania won’t realize the benefits because it puts in place significant hurdles to actually developing in the state.”