A sign protesting data center development stood Wednesday near the Mid Valley Hotel in Eynon, Pennsylvania, as lawmakers in the northeastern part of the state moved to regulate the industry and, in some cases, halt its expansion. The surge in proposals for large-scale data centers has prompted concerns about water usage, electricity demand, and the impact on local communities, particularly in Monroe, Lackawanna, and Wayne counties.
State Senator Rosemary Brown (R-40th District) announced Tuesday her intention to introduce a legislative package dubbed “Residents First,” which includes a proposed moratorium on new data center developments statewide. Brown’s district encompasses Monroe County and portions of Lackawanna and Wayne counties, areas experiencing a significant influx of data center proposals. “People deserve answers, and it’s our responsibility to protect utilities, resources and the environment where people live,” Brown said in a statement released by her office.
The “Residents First” package also calls for the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the “future validity and viability of data center technology and facilities,” and mandates independent water impact studies for proposed projects. A key component of the legislation would restrict the construction of large-scale data centers to industrially zoned areas, preventing their placement near residential neighborhoods. Brown circulated co-sponsorship memos for the three proposed bills in mid-February.
State Representatives Kyle Mullins and Kyle Donahue have joined Brown in supporting the legislative efforts. The move follows calls from Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan for a three-year moratorium on data center development, a request he formalized in a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers last week.
The growing concern stems from the increasing number of proposals for data centers across northeastern Pennsylvania. These facilities, described as “warehouse-like buildings filled with computers that store and process massive amounts of digital information,” support services like cloud storage, streaming, and artificial intelligence. A programmer from the Scranton area, Emilia Doda, created a public map in August to track the planned locations of data centers across the state, aiming to provide communities with greater transparency regarding the projects.
While acknowledging the potential economic benefits of data centers, Senator Brown emphasized the require for careful consideration of their broader impacts. “While I believe data centers can play a role in Pennsylvania’s economy, she stated, “the state must be better prepared.” The proposed legislation reflects a growing sentiment among lawmakers and residents that the rapid expansion of the industry requires greater oversight and community involvement in the decision-making process.
Anthony Pipa, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted the value of citizen-driven initiatives like Doda’s map, stating that increased information “empowers local people to be part of this decision-making process.” The bills proposed by Senator Brown are currently awaiting consideration by the Pennsylvania legislature.
