Data center bills get bipartisan support

House members from both parties see the need to provide legal protections.

The Pennsylvania House passed two pieces of legislation this week that aim to protect state residents from the negative effects of data centers.

Kuzma

A bipartisan group of Mon Valley lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill included Eric Davanzo, R-Smithton, Andrew Kuzma, R-Elizabeth, John Inglis, D-West Mifflin, and Dan Goughnour, D-McKeesport. In a statement, Kuzma emphasized the importance of adding protections against data centers as their demand grows due to AI.

“During legislative session this week, I supported two bills — House Bills 2150 and 2151 — that are focused on protecting our communities from the potential negative effects of data centers,” Kuzma said. “Legislators need to ensure that data centers do not negatively impact the residents of our Commonwealth by disturbing neighborhoods or raising energy prices. It is essential that their placement must be left in the hands of local governments.”

State Rep. Eric Davanzo

HB 2150 mandates that data center operators annually report their water and electricity usage to the state. HB 2151 asks the Local Government Commission to develop model ordinances to help municipal officials prepare for data center development.

HB 2150 includes a $10,000 fine for each day a data center company fails to provide the reports required in the legislation.

Thirty-two Republicans joined Democrats to vote in favor of HB 2150, with 23 Republicans approving HB 2151.

Reporting done by Spotlight PA has found that there were 53 proposed data centers in Pennsylvania as of March. As of now, the state has 52 active data centers.

“I voted in favor of both bills because they take a common sense approach to protecting the public while allowing this industry to grow responsibly,” Davanzo said. “Right now, there are no consistent statewide consumer or safety protections for the information storage industry, and that’s a gap that needs to be addressed. These bills close that gap without overregulating or discouraging investment and job creation here in Pennsylvania.

“Just as important, this legislation recognizes the value of our workforce by ensuring Pennsylvania trades workers have a role in the projects being developed. If we’re going to welcome this industry into our communities, our skilled workers should be part of building and maintaining it.”

Davanzo also highlighted the importance of providing municipalities with the resources they need to respond to the increasing demand for data centers.

“In many of the communities I represent, there are no zoning ordinances or municipal codes currently in place,” he said. “The reality is, business and technology often move faster than government, and local officials are left trying to catch up. House Bill 2151 helps bridge that gap by providing a model ordinance that addresses important issues like site standards, noise and landscaping.

“This legislation doesn’t force mandates on municipalities. Instead, it gives them a practical tool they can use in whole or in part — so they’re not starting from scratch when these projects come forward.”

According to a 2026 Pew Research Center survey, Americans overall have a negative opinion of data centers when it comes to their impact on the environment, energy costs and the effects on quality of life. But the survey found that a large group of Americans sees the positive economic impacts of data centers.

The Pew Research survey revealed that around one-in-five Americans or more say they aren’t sure of data centers’ effect on the five areas of impact the survey asked about. Another 25% of people in the survey said they had heard nothing about data centers.

Dan Diorio, vice president of state policy at the Data Center Coalition, told WESA that some data center facilities use advanced cooling technology to keep their servers from overheating.

Diorio also told WESA that some companies recycle the water they use as coolant, which he said could use less water than a country club. However, WESA cited an older study stating that medium-sized warehouses that don’t use advanced technology can consume 18 times more water than golf courses.

House bills 2150 and 2151 will now move to the state Senate.