Dear Friends,
Last week, I shared how your advocacy helped stop PECO’s proposed rate increase. This week, I want to focus on what we are doing in Harrisburg to address the underlying pressures driving energy costs and to better protect consumers moving forward.
Rising electricity demand, particularly from large-scale users like data centers, is one factor putting upward pressure on prices. But Pennsylvania also faces unique challenges. As my colleague clearly outlines in this article, Pennsylvania is particularly vulnerable because of our heavy reliance on natural gas, which accounts for roughly 60% of our electricity generation, compared to about 40% nationally.
That over-reliance means global events quickly impact prices here at home. When natural gas prices rise worldwide, Pennsylvania households feel it in their electric bills.
At the same time, Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s top energy producers, yet because prices are set in broader regional markets, we do not necessarily benefit from lower costs. The result is higher prices for households, small businesses, and local governments, along with increasing strain from large energy users connecting to the grid.
These pressures are exactly why legislative action is necessary. After months of hearings and policy workshops, we’ve recently moved a significant amount of legislation to address the issues being caused by data centers. These include pieces of legislation aimed at protecting consumers, improving transparency, and planning responsibly for future growth:
House Bill 1834, the Data Center Act, which I am proud to co-sponsor, creates a framework to manage data center growth by requiring that these facilities, not residential customers, pay for the infrastructure they need. It also directs the Public Utility Commission to implement regulations and strengthen protections for affordability programs like LIHEAP. The bill passed the House and is now before the Senate Consumer Protection and Licensure Committee. This bill ensures we can support economic growth without shifting costs onto working families.
House Bill 2150, which I also co-sponsored, requires data center operators to disclose their energy and water usage to the Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring policymakers and communities have the information needed to make informed decisions. This bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate.
House Bill 2151 provides municipalities with model ordinances to regulate data centers, including standards for location, sound, and design, should they wish to do so. In the absence of tools to regulate these centers, many of our municipalities won’t be able to do so. The bill passed the House and has been sent to the Senate.
House Bill 2333 strengthens consumer protections by: preventing utilities from shifting unpaid costs onto customers, expanding protections against shutoffs (including in winter), and providing more flexible payment options for low-income households. The bill passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.
I have also co-sponsored legislation that allows municipalities to enact a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications, giving communities time to study impacts and put safeguards in place.
Taken together, these efforts are designed to ensure that economic growth does not come at the expense of Pennsylvania families and our communities. We must hold large energy users accountable, improve transparency, empower local governments, and reduce our exposure to volatile global energy markets.
Policymaking amid the surge of proposed data centers in Pennsylvania has proven complex. Across the Commonwealth, regions and their representatives hold vastly differing perspectives on the potential benefits and drawbacks of data center projects. I have concerns about the impact of these centers on all Pennsylvanians and about how parts of the data center industry have targeted our region and the tactics being used.
While no single legislator can determine the outcome of individual projects, we do have a responsibility to put strong rules in place. Without action, we risk shifting costs onto residents and leaving communities without the tools they need to respond to rapid growth. As legislators, no single one of us can fast-track data centers into our communities, nor can any one of us singlehandedly stop them. Inaction on our part could, however, lead to an insufficiently regulated industry that puts citizens at risk. The House and the Senate need to work together to come up with legislative solutions to protect consumers and our energy supply. Proposed projects are not inexorable, and I am encouraged by the number of residents who are making their voices heard and sharing thoughtful feedback. Please keep making your voices heard. While I recognize the importance of economic growth, I firmly believe that the impacts of data centers must be carefully and thoroughly evaluated and that the legislature must provide guardrails on the development of this industry in our commonwealth.
I will continue working with my colleagues to advance policies that protect consumers, promote transparency, and ensure Pennsylvania’s energy future is reliable and affordable.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with questions or concerns.