Erie County Council is considering new regulations for future data centers as concerns grow over their potential impact on local communities.
This week, council held a public hearing on an amendment to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, or SALDO, that would establish new requirements for data center developments.
The amendment would apply to 12 municipalities that do not currently have their own data center ordinances.
The proposal comes after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an executive order aimed at blocking what he described as “speculative, irresponsible data center projects.”
Under the order, the Environmental Protection Agency would only review permit applications from data center developers who commit to meeting the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development, or GRID, requirements.
Those requirements are intended to address concerns surrounding energy affordability, environmental health, economic development, and transparency.
However, the exact GRID requirements are not currently available online.
With limited control at the local level, members of the Erie County Planning Commission say the executive order does not go far enough.
“The executive order has some good provisions, but not enough,” said Henry Chiapa, District 3 Representative on the Erie County Planning Commission. “I feel like Governor Shapiro is just kind of passing the buck off to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Utility Commission.”
Chiapa said additional regulations may be needed to address concerns surrounding future data center projects.
The executive order also requires data center developers to receive local approval before their permit applications can be reviewed by the EPA.
Erie County Council is expected to vote on whether to approve or deny the SALDO amendment on August 25.