BLAIR COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Two state legislators hosted an informational meeting in Blair County Thursday on the anticipated increase in data centers across the state and the nation.
Those representatives answered some common questions about the potential impacts of those data centers on communities in the commonwealth.
Representatives Andrea Verobish and Scott Barger addressed several public concerns surrounding data centers, including potential impacts to the power grid and the environment, and talked about what legislators in Harrisburg are doing to help.
Approximately 200 constituents attended the informational meeting at the Blair County Convention Center to get some answers to their questions regarding data centers.
Representative Scott Barger addressed several concerns surrounding the power grid.
He says that despite no data centers being up and running in the state, their development elsewhere is still impacting electric bills since Pennsylvania is a part of a 13-state electric grid called PJM.
“What that means is that even if a data center is built in one county, it’s probably going to increase the cost of your electricity because of supply and demand. Anywhere that there’s increased demand for electricity is affecting our electric business,” Rep. Barger explained.
He further explained that within that grid, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are the only two states making more electricity than what they use.
Every other state in the grid, dictators. And they are winding down power generation, but they’re not winding down the demand for power. And that’s causing the price to go up across the PJM grid. They’re not being good neighbors when it comes to electric generation and that problem isn’t changing anytime soon.
He also adds that electric companies are bidding on electricity ahead of time to prepare for the influx of data centers that is coming.
“The cost of electricity on the capacity market has increased 1,500% in two years. All based on the anticipation of increasing power needs. This means that if the data center is built, or if it’s not good, it’s not good. It will affect the cost of electricity on the auction.”
During the meeting, Representative Andrea Verobish addressed environmental and contracting concerns.
She says that data centers have very strict guidelines and must answer to several state departments, as well as follow strict regulations as per Governor Josh Shapiro’s latest executive order creating guardrails for data centers in communities.
“A developer still has to comply with the conditions of its permits and any legally binding commitments it has made. The DEP has inspection and enforcement authority over activities within its jurisdiction and violations can result in enforcement actions, penalties, orders, or permit consequences. The grid framework adds another layer for qualifying projects. Developers that commit to grid requirements entering to a consent order and agreement or a COA with the DEP,” she explained.
Both legislators noted that they co-sponsored the Ratepayer Protections Act, which is meant to prevent data centers from shifting energy costs onto everyday customers.
Officials say anyone who is concerned about a proposed data center project in your community or if you have general questions, to contact your local legislators.