Tell Gov. Shapiro & House Leaders: Support HB 1834 to Regulate Data Center Development!

Pennsylvania is facing a wave of massive data center development unlike anything we've seen before. These facilities can consume as much electricity as entire communities, place new demands on our electric grid, impact local water resources, and increase energy costs for families and businesses across the Commonwealth.

As budget negotiations continue and the June 30 deadline approaches, Governor Shapiro, Speaker Joanna McClinton, and Leader Matt Bradford have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure Pennsylvania has meaningful safeguards in place.

The Governor has said many times: Doing nothing is not an option. We agree.

Some lawmakers and community groups have proposed temporary moratoriums on data center development. Those proposals deserve consideration. A pause may provide time for communities and policymakers to evaluate the impacts of these projects and develop long-term solutions. But a moratorium is not a plan. It is only a temporary pause and not a long-term solution.

Pennsylvania will eventually have to decide how to regulate data centers.

That's why we need HB 1834, which has already passed the House. These approaches are not mutually exclusive. You can support a pause on development while also supporting permanent statewide safeguards.

HB 1834 would establish meaningful guardrails for large data centers in Pennsylvania by:

Requiring large data centers to bring new, in-state clean firm energy onto the grid
Protecting consumers from paying the costs of serving massive new electricity loads
Requiring contributions to LIHEAP to help households struggling with rising energy bills
Creating the Energy Independence Fund to support Pennsylvania energy investment

Without these protections, Pennsylvania risks repeating a familiar mistake: allowing major industrial development to move forward first and figuring out the rules later. Data centers are too large, too energy-intensive, and too consequential for our communities, electric grid, and environment to operate without clear standards.

Contact Governor Shapiro, Speaker McClinton, and Leader Bradford today and urge them to make HB 1834 a priority before the June 30 budget deadline!

Pennsylvania needs real rules for data centers, not just hope that everything will work out.

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Photo: Matthieu Beaumont via Unsplash

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Support HB 1834 to Protect Pennsylvania Consumers and Grid Reliability

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Dear Governor Shapiro, Speaker McClinton, and Leader Bradford, I urge you to make comprehensive data center policy a priority during ongoing budget negotiations and through the remainder of the legislative session, if necessary. Pennsylvania is experiencing a rapid increase in proposed data center development. These facilities can consume enormous amounts of electricity, require significant new infrastructure, and have far-reaching implications for energy affordability, grid reliability, environmental quality, and local communities. As policymakers consider how best to respond, one thing is clear: a moratorium is not a plan. A temporary pause on development may provide valuable time to study impacts and evaluate policy options. However, regardless of whether development proceeds now or later, Pennsylvania will ultimately need a clear regulatory framework to govern these facilities and protect the public interest. That framework should ensure that large new electricity users contribute to the energy resources and infrastructure needed to serve them, rather than shifting costs and risks onto households, small businesses, and local communities. I urge you to support HB 1834 which begins establishing these protections by: * Requiring large data centers to support the development of new, clean firm energy resources; * Protecting ratepayers from bearing the costs of serving massive new electricity loads; * Supporting energy affordability programs, including LIHEAP; * Creating the Energy Independence Fund to support Pennsylvania energy investment Data centers are too large and too consequential to Pennsylvania's economy, environment, electric grid, and communities to operate without clear rules and accountability. We have an opportunity to welcome economic development while also protecting consumers and ensuring reliable, affordable, and sustainable water and electricity service. Achieving that balance will require thoughtful policy, not inaction. Again, I urge you to advance comprehensive data center legislation and ensure that meaningful consumer, environmental, and grid reliability protections are included in any final agreement. Thank you!

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