Senator focuses on AI 'threat to humanity' as data center fights continue

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(The Center Square) - Citizen-led struggles to pause or stop data center projects around Pennsylvania are continuing as 'threat to humanity' warnings tied to artificial intelligence have reached the state Capitol.

In one legal conflict, a group of plaintiffs and residents have filed in Cumberland County Court for a stay in work on the Pennsylvania Digital 1 or "Pax-1" project, a 693-acre site west of Harrisburg that ultimately could have 16 data center buildings. A court proceeding is scheduled later this week.

The site is along the Conodoguinet Creek and just west of the Appalachian Trail. It was was on the "Fast Track" expedited-state permitting list of Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration until Aug. 18, when Shapiro abruptly pulled data centers off the list and by executive order instituted rules for data center development.

"They are moving forward at a breakneck pace," one of the plaintiffs, Andrew Dymski, said on Tuesday of the work in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County. "We are just asking the court to press 'pause.'"

Meanwhile, the national debate over the AI nurtured by data centers has become laden with deepening concern. Prominent AI leaders at multiple companies have spoken of a need to slow things down. The comments include ones posted recently on social media by Jacob Coxon.

In one post, Coxon, who said he was quitting his AI job at the company that created the system marketed as "Claude," said "people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade."

Based on such statements, state Sen. Art Haywood of Philadelphia on Tuesday said he intended to create bills focused on AI corporate accountability, transparency, and critical-incident reporting.

"The recent warnings from artificial intelligence developers that rapidly advancing technology poses and urgent threat to humanity are a call to action," Haywood said.

Haywood said the national government has a responsibility to protect the "security and dignity of people today and for generations to come." But if Washington, D.C., fails to act, Harrisburg must.

“I am examining international approaches to AI regulation and working with experts across Pennsylvania to develop legislation that would require AI companies to report how they identify, mitigate, and govern substantial risks," Haywood said.

Haywood got qualified support Tuesday from a Republican, Sen. Jarrett Coleman of Lehigh County. He is author of a bill to give municipalities the option of invoking an 18-month moratorium on data center applications.

"I think Art is acting in good faith on what he is hearing from the industry and residents," Coleman said.

At the same time, Coleman wondered if Haywood's concept would violate the federal Interstate Commerce Clause, which restricts states from impairing interstate commerce.

Both Coleman and his Democratic challenger in the November election, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, are scheduled to speak at a press conference next week ahead of a municipal meeting in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County. There, residents are fighting a proposal to build a data center across the street from the state's fifth-largest high school, Parkland.

Attempts to reach Pinsley on Tuesday were not successful.

In Salem Township, Luzerne County, where two major data centers already are being built or planned, the future of a third concept may be on the line at a Planning Commission meeting next week. The commission already has held the same meeting twice, with the first one being voided by a judge's finding of a Sunshine Act violation and the second one being negated because the township was unaware of a written order from the judge that precluded certain actions.