Planning for data centers takes legislative shape

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – As data centers multiply across Pennsylvania, so do concerns about their impact on local communities.

Legislation in the drafting stage would increase transparency and ensure local officials have the data they need to make better land use decisions and evaluate a project’s long-term viability.  

Sens. Rosemary Brown, R-Scotrun, and David Argall, R-Hazleton are seeking cosponsors for a bill that would require a pre-application meeting between developers and local officials before data center projects are formally submitted for municipal review. 

Data centers represent potential economic opportunity for Pennsylvania, said Brown. However, they are also incredibly resource-intensive facilities.

She said the bill ensures municipalities have the information they need early in the process to assess whether local infrastructure can realistically support these projects and residents have facts as well. 

Under the proposed legislation, any entity seeking to develop a data center in Pennsylvania must:

• Request a pre-application meeting with the host municipality at least 30 days before submitting a formal development application.

• Include zoning, planning, elected officials and any third-party engineers and solicitors, if necessary, in the meeting.

• Provide “will-serve” letters from water, sewer, electric, and fiber infrastructure providers confirming that existing systems can support the project at full buildout, not just in phases.

• Identify any anticipated impacts on local residents related to infrastructure capacity.

Brown told The Center Square the legislation could change as they work on it, but she believes it’s a good starting point.

“It’s a good thing for development, economics, conservation, and public protection – having the information is the right thing to do,” she said.

It’s important for the public to understand the responsibilities local governments have in deciding where developments are located, Brown said – likening it to what many communities have experienced with warehouses. 

Local officials balance land use management, ordinances and constitutional fairness by allowing opportunities for all types of businesses. But protecting residents from unwanted developments in their backyards is top of mind, too.

Brown noted that growing demand for technology and services is fueling the need for data center development and is a complex process that is still evolving. By requiring pre-application meetings, she said, the bill would equip local governments with utility and site details early on – giving officials more time to review projects and provide clear, fact-based answers to residents. 

Both senators’ teams are working with stakeholders to create a realistic, actionable plan that includes both short- and long-term protections to avoid unintended consequences – while still being pro-business and supporting the requirements for advancing our technology goals. 

“This is about sustainable development,” Brown said. “We want to make sure that while Pennsylvania grows, our communities are not left behind or overwhelmed. This is about doing things right.”

The senators stress that the bill is not meant to discourage development, but to encourage informed, cooperative planning that benefits business while protecting Pennsylvania’s communities.