HARRISBURG, Pa. – A local lawmaker’s legislation allowing municipalities to place a moratorium on data center development applications has taken a step forward in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Sen. Jarrett Coleman’s (R-16) bill advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee Tuesday, according to a news release from Pennsylvania Senate Republicans.
Senate Bill 1345 would give municipalities the option of placing an 18-month moratorium on both unapproved and new data center applications so they can revise zoning ordinances and establish policies addressing issues like power supply, water consumption, noise and setbacks which they determine protect the community’s interests, Senate Republicans said.
“I hear from my constituents almost every day about their concerns with data center projects,” said Coleman.
“My legislation empowers local communities to push the pause button on data centers in order to regulate these projects on their own terms.”