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A data center moratorium bill passed the PA House with bipartisan support! Now it moves to the state Senate!
House Bill (HB) 2496 calls for a 6-month pause on data center development for all Pennsylvania municipalities.
Data centers are becoming one of the fastest growing users of electricity and water in Pennsylvania. Without thoughtful regulation, their rapid expansion threatens our shared natural resources, strains public infrastructure, and deepens inequities—especially for households least able to absorb rising utility costs.
"The ELCA calls upon individuals, agencies, organizations, corporations, and governments to pursue goals, set policies, and establish practices that...Promote a just transition from fossil fuels to a clean-energy future that leaves no one behind, through public investments in economic development and job retraining programs." - ELCA social message on “Earth’s Climate Crisis” (pp. 11-12)
Across the Commonwealth, data centers are being proposed and built at a pace that does not leave time for adequate consideration of public input, environmental safeguards, and long-term planning. Without proper regulation, data centers can demand enormous amounts of energy and water, place new stress on local electric grids, raise utility rates for families, and threaten local ecosystems and exacerbate climate change. This data center moratorium bill is the breathing room PA municipalities need to put a pause on all data center applications while they develop the proper zoning ordinances and protections for their community.
Pennsylvanians are concerned about rising electric bills and lack of transparency surrounding data center approvals. As people rooted in these communities, we recognize both the good that technology can bring and the harm that occurs when development is allowed to proceed without accountability or meaningful oversight.
As people of faith, we believe stewardship requires care and consideration for our neighbors and communities. Growth without guardrails is not responsible governance.
HB2496 allows municipalities time to adopt, amend or repeal parts of their land use ordinances relating to data centers.
Regulation such as HB 1834 , The Data Center Act, provides for regulation of commercial data centers by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, for recovery of costs, for contributions to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, for renewable energy requirements and for filing and enforcement; establishing the Data Center LIHEAP Enhancement Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Department of Human Services.
As Lutherans and people of faith, we affirm that caring for creation is caring for our neighbors. Pennsylvania can achieve both economic prosperity and steward our shared natural resources. This is not a choice between the two.
Urge Pennsylvania lawmakers and Governor Shapiro to support thoughtful data center regulation and a data center moratorium. Enter your information in the form on the right, and it will take you to a message that you can edit to send to your state lawmakers in the General Assembly. Include a personalized message about your commitment to caring for our neighbors and our common home. Follow this link to see if your lawmakers are bill sponsors and be sure to thank them if they are!
Thank you for your advocacy!
