As lawmakers mull bills, Pa. community pushback on data centers is widespread

(The Center Square) – As crowds gather again and again in local meeting rooms around the state to grapple with the potential impacts of proposed data centers, a slew of potentially relevant bills awaits action by state lawmakers in Harrisburg.

Currently, there are no comprehensive regulations in state law specific to data centers. Meanwhile, the local public meetings often filled with questions and aggravation.

“We are seeing public opposition across the political spectrum,” said Ginny Marcille-Kerslake of Chester County, senior organizer for the advocacy nonprofit Food & Water Watch. In some places, she said, huge projects are being “fast-tracked” by the state when local approvals have not been received.

A bill that was referred Thursday to the House Energy Committee, sponsored by Republican Rep. Craig Williams of Delaware County, would codify in state l...