Pennsylvania moves to tighten data centre rules, targets power costs and water use
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New Delhi: Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have introduced a bill proposing new rules for large data centres. The legislation aims to address their growing demand for electricity and water, protect consumers from higher power costs and ensure benefits for local communities.
House Bill 2888, titled the Data Centre Community Support and Compliance Act, was introduced on Wednesday. It would require qualifying data centre operators to submit plans explaining how they would meet their energy and water needs before construction begins.
The energy plans would cover additional power generation, energy storage and ways to reduce electricity use. Operators would also have to explain how they would purchase electricity and whether excess heat from their facilities could be reused. The Pennsylvania department of environmental protection would review these plans and issue the required approvals.
The bill also proposes rules for community benefits. Data centre operators would have to explain how their projects would support surrounding areas and submit yearly updates on their commitments. The legislation also provides for checks and penalties if companies fail to meet the proposed requirements.
Another key provision aims to prevent other electricity customers from bearing the additional costs of data centre operations. However, local governments would retain their authority to decide where such facilities can be built.
The proposal follows other steps taken by Pennsylvania to address issues linked to digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). These include an executive order on data centre rules, legislation targeting deceptive AI advertising and reporting requirements for AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The state has also criminalised malicious deepfakes.
The bill has been referred to the Pennsylvania House Energy Committee and has not yet become law.
Why does it matter?
Data centres require large amounts of electricity and water to operate. The proposed law seeks to ensure that companies account for these needs and their impact on local communities before setting up new facilities. It would also allow authorities to track whether operators fulfil their promises while protecting other electricity consumers from additional costs.
