Friend,

Pennsylvania is facing a rapid surge of data center proposals — and our towns lack the tools they need to protect residents.

We’re as worried about data centers as you are  — about the energy they’ll consume, the costs we’ll be stuck paying, the water use, noise, pollution, and traffic.

But here’s a huge challenge to fighting them: even if the best state laws get passed, zoning and land-use decisions are made at the local level. And local governments are under-resourced and outmatched when Big Tech comes to town.

That’s a big problem. And it’s one Harrisburg can help solve.

A bill in the State House, HB 2151, would give municipalities template ordinance language they can choose to use to block poorly sited data centers — or, at the very least, ensure they don’t harm residents or degrade quality of life.

Without guidance like this, developers can exploit outdated local zoning rules — leaving communities to deal with the consequences.

Unfortunately, this common sense bill is getting some massive pushback – and state representatives in every district need to hear support ASAP. 

Contact your State House member today and urge them to vote YES on HB 2151. Tell them: Pennsylvania communities deserve tools to protect their communities from data centers.

Here are more details. HB 2151 directs the state to create a model zoning ordinance that municipalities can use if they choose when updating their local laws in response to potential data center development.

This is not a mandate. 

It does not change state zoning law.

And no municipality would be required to adopt the model ordinance in any form.

Instead, it’s technical assistance — a tool in the toolbox — to help cash-strapped municipalities go toe-to-toe with multi-billion-dollar corporations and could address serious concerns about:

• Excessive energy and water use
• Noise impacts
• Setbacks from homes and neighborhoods
• Infrastructure strain and emergency response planning

Plus, we’re working to make the bill stronger by supporting an amendment that would require public participation during the drafting of the model ordinance to ensure it reflects the values of Pennsylvania families.

In my personal life, I’m a local elected official. I vouch for this bill and can say first hand how helpful it is when the state provides local officials sample bill language for us to work from. 

This common sense bill was on track to sail through the legislature, but I’m worried it might not pass. I really need your help – can you please send a message to your State House member today and urge them to vote YES on HB 2151? 

Helping towns is one of the things that the state is there to do. Let’s make sure Pennsylvania doesn’t leave our towns to fend for themselves as the data center boom ramps up. 

Katie Blume
Political & Legislative Director
Conservation Voters of PA

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Conservation Voters of PA
P.O. Box 2125
Philadelphia, PA 19103
United States