HARRISBURG – Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40) is continuing her call for stronger safeguards on large-scale data center development in Pennsylvania, urging state leaders to put residents and local communities first as the industry rapidly expands.
Brown, who introduced a comprehensive “Residents First” legislative package earlier this year and supports a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data center development, said residents across northeastern Pennsylvania have raised serious concerns regarding the pace of proposed projects and the lack of meaningful protections currently in place.
“People are not against progress, and they understand what modern technology needs, but they deserve real answers before decisions are made that could permanently impact their neighborhoods, infrastructure, water resources and quality of life,” Brown said. “Residents have raised legitimate concerns about energy demand, utility costs, environmental impacts, traffic, noise and whether local infrastructure can truly support these developments.”
Brown’s “Residents First” legislative package would:
- Require data center developers to provide “will-serve” letters confirming utilities can handle a project at full build-out before a formal application is submitted.
- Limit large-scale data center development to zoned industrial areas.
- Mandate an independent, third-party water impact study and analysis at least 30 days prior to any formal application and require long-term follow-up.
- Direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study emerging data storage technology and evaluate its long-term viability, including whether current technology may become obsolete and whether emerging alternatives may reduce environmental and resource impacts.
According to Brown, local governments are increasingly being asked to evaluate highly technical proposals without adequate state guidance, consistent standards or enforceable safeguards. As a result, there is a substantial risk that decisions with long-term — and potentially irreversible — consequences may be made without a comprehensive understanding of their impacts. Unfortunately, this concern is not merely theoretical; We have already seen examples of these challenges emerging in Lackawanna County.
Brown acknowledged the governor’s recent “GRID certification” proposal to establish voluntary standards for data center development, but said additional action is needed.
“The governor is trying to have it both ways,” Brown said. “He wants to signal concern to residents while continuing to advance an approach that leaves regulations optional. The residents I speak to daily aren’t asking for voluntary guidelines or incentive programs. They’re asking for enforceable protections that ensure communities come first –– not outside interests –– and they want confidence in decisions that will impact them for generations.”
Brown emphasized that her support for a moratorium is not intended to block economic development but to ensure Pennsylvania establishes comprehensive protections before additional projects move forward. During budget hearings before the Senate Appropriations Committee in February, Brown challenged the Shapiro Administration’s decision to fast-track data center proposals of this magnitude, citing concerns raised by residents and local communities. Since, the governor subsequently removed a proposed data center project in Archbald from the Fast Track Permitting Program.
“This is not about being anti-development,” Brown said. “It is about making sure Pennsylvania gets this right. Once these projects move forward, there is not a second chance. Economic opportunities and quality of life should not be mutually exclusive. Residents deserve transparency, accountability and a meaningful voice in decisions that could impact their communities for generations. That is simply common sense.”
Brown said she will continue advocating for stronger statewide standards, enforceable protections and meaningful local control before any additional large-scale data center projects are approved.
“I have heard the concerns of residents loud and clear,” Brown said. “I will continue fighting for policies that put residents first, protect our communities and ensure that growth occurs responsibly and sustainably.”