Harrisburg, PA — Today, the House Energy Committee held a hearing for HB2151, a Shapiro-backed bill that would provide a model data center ordinance intended to speed controversial data center development. This comes amidst widespread community backlash to data center proposals. Developers have submitted applications for over 20 new hyper-scale data centers in Pennsylvania, with numerous other proposals held up by zoning constraints. The House Energy Committee has scheduled a vote this Wednesday at 10 am.

Community opposition to data center development is palpable throughout Pennsylvania, with communities stopping projects at the municipal level before development begins, citing concerns with electricity costs, water and energy use, land use changes, community impact, job loss, and more. Attempts by the data center industry to install their own zoning ordinances have been defeated locally, and municipalities are working to enact strong ordinances to protect residents from the harmful impacts of this new industrial use. HB2151 would undermine these efforts. 

Food & Water Watch Eastern Pennsylvania Senior Organizer Ginny Marcille-Kerslake issued the following statement: 

“HB2151 would undermine Pennsylvanians’ herculean grassroots efforts to keep dirty data centers out of our communities — it must be stopped.

“This bill pushes Shapiro’s reckless embrace of data centers even further onto communities struggling to grapple with Big Tech’s land, power and water grab. Local governments and residents deserve confidence that zoning rules are written for the public good, not by an agency that has been making backroom deals to fast-track data centers. HB2151 must die in committee.”

In October, Food & Water Watch became the first national group to call for a data center moratorium.Over 250+ organizations have since joined the call — including 17 from Pennsylvania.