Environmental policy debate continues at state capitol as data center proposals could incr
November 18, 2025
STATE CAPITOL IN HARRISBURG. TOM. WELL, LAURIE, THIS RELATES TO DATA CENTERS BECAUSE THEY USE A LOT OF POWER. AND AS A RESULT, SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE TOUTING ONE OF THE WINS THEY GOT IN THE BUDGET, GETTING PENNSYLVANIA OUT OF THE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE, OFTEN SHORTENED TO JUST ITS ACRONYM. BUT THEY SAID THAT BY GETTING RID OF THIS FEE ON POWER PLANT OPERATORS FOR HOW MUCH CARBON THEY RELEASE INTO THE AIR, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP KEEP SOME POWER BILLS IN CHECK. THE AI AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FUTURE IS ON THE CUSP, AND WE’RE BETTER TO DO IT RIGHT HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA. UNION LEADERS AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CELEBRATED PENNSYLVANIA LEAVING RGGI. THEY SAY NOT ONLY WILL IT SPUR JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT COULD ALSO HELP WITH YOUR ELECTRIC BILLS. THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT CONSUMERS WITH THE ADVENT OF DATA CENTERS IS TO MAKE SURE SUPPLY MEETS DEMAND. TO ME, THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS DATA CENTERS COMING ONLINE WITHOUT COMMENSURATE SUPPLY. BUT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AT THE CAPITOL TUESDAY WARNED GAS POWERED DATA CENTERS COME WITH CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR AND NEXT TO THEM. ALLISON STEEL, WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT, SAID THE NUMBER OF JOBS FOR DATA CENTER RELATED PROJECTS IS SOMETIMES OVERSTATED, AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE PROTECTED AGAINST HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE DOUBLING DOWN ON FOSSIL FUEL. NOW IS THE TIME TO BE RAMPING DOWN ON OUR DEPENDANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS AND WORKING TOWARD A JUST TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY TO HELP BUILD A VIBRANT ECONOMY THAT SUPPORTS GREEN JOBS AND BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. NOW, STEEL SAYS THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS BEYOND JUST EMISSIONS RELATED TO POWERING DATA CENTERS. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE SUPPLY OF WATER THAT IS OFTEN NEEDED IS A CONCERN AS WELL. AND SIMPLY PUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LIVING IN PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES WHERE THESE DATA CENTERS MIGHT GO NEED TO HAVE THE PROTECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY ILL EFFECTS FROM WHATEVER IS BUILT
Environmental policy debate continues at state capitol as data center proposals could increase power demand
Updated: 8:16 PM EST Nov 18, 2025
With data center projects increasing demand on the power grid in Pennsylvania, GOP lawmakers on Tuesday touted changes in environmental policies they scored in this year’s budget process as potentially keeping electric bills down for consumers.House and Senate Republicans, during a news conference, spoke about concessions they secured during the removal of Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and a number of permitting reforms they said will stir commerce and create jobs.Among the chief concerns for power production, Sen. Joe Pittman, the majority leader in the Senate, was an increasing number of data center proposals around the Commonwealth.”The best way to protect consumers is to make sure, with the advent of data centers is to make sure there’s enough supply more demand. To me, the biggest concern is data centers coming online without enough power,” he said.At the same time, environmental groups spoke at the Capitol about the need for the state to pass laws or implement regulations to ensure that gas-powered data center projects do not negatively impact the environment or the health of people who live in the area.Alison Steele, executive director of the Environmental Health Project, said people who live near or at the fence line of data center projects are affected by gas emissions from power plants and drain on water supply. She also said that the economic impact of data centers can sometimes be overstated, as many jobs will be temporary in the construction phase.”Now is not the time to be doubling down on fossil fuels. Now is the time to be ramping down on our dependence on fossil fuels and working toward a just transition to renewable energy to help build a vibrant economy that supports green jobs and better health outcomes,” she said.
With data center projects increasing demand on the power grid in Pennsylvania, GOP lawmakers on Tuesday touted changes in environmental policies they scored in this year’s budget process as potentially keeping electric bills down for consumers.
House and Senate Republicans, during a news conference, spoke about concessions they secured during the removal of Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and a number of permitting reforms they said will stir commerce and create jobs.
Among the chief concerns for power production, Sen. Joe Pittman, the majority leader in the Senate, was an increasing number of data center proposals around the Commonwealth.
“The best way to protect consumers is to make sure, with the advent of data centers is to make sure there’s enough supply more demand. To me, the biggest concern is data centers coming online without enough power,” he said.
At the same time, environmental groups spoke at the Capitol about the need for the state to pass laws or implement regulations to ensure that gas-powered data center projects do not negatively impact the environment or the health of people who live in the area.
Alison Steele, executive director of the Environmental Health Project, said people who live near or at the fence line of data center projects are affected by gas emissions from power plants and drain on water supply. She also said that the economic impact of data centers can sometimes be overstated, as many jobs will be temporary in the construction phase.
“Now is not the time to be doubling down on fossil fuels. Now is the time to be ramping down on our dependence on fossil fuels and working toward a just transition to renewable energy to help build a vibrant economy that supports green jobs and better health outcomes,” she said.
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