PA House Advances Data Center Bills for Transparency, Protections

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, voted 14-12 on March 6, 2026, to advance House Bill 2150 and House Bill 2151, targeting the rapid growth of data centers fueled by artificial intelligence and streaming demands.[1][2][4] Sponsored by Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna, H.B. 2150 mandates annual reports from data center operators to the Department of Environmental Protection on energy and water usage, plus efficiency measures, excluding small telecom operations.[1][4] "If the data center industry wants to expand in Pennsylvania and avail itself of our critical resources — water, electricity, and land — the very least among many things that should be required is full transparency," Mullins said.[1] H.B. 2151, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna, directs the Department of Community and Economic Development to create optional model ordinances for municipalities to regulate data center noise, size, water use, and other impacts.[1][2][4] "Right now, communities across the Commonwealth lack clear standards to address the noise, size, water usage, and other impacts data centers can have on local neighborhoods," Donahue stated.[1] Supporters like Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen praised the bills for equipping towns to manage proposals without vast legal resources.[1] Separately, the full House passed H.B. 1834 on March 24, 2026, sponsored by Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Beaver, establishing the state's first regulatory framework for data centers.[3] The measure prohibits utilities from passing grid upgrade costs onto ratepayers, requires data centers to fund their own infrastructure and boost renewable energy, and supports low-income assistance programs.[3] Fiedler called it "a vital bill that will save Pennsylvania residents money and get more energy online."[3]