July 11, 2026 − As communities across Pennsylvania express concerns about the rapid expansion of data centers and their impact on energy costs, Senator Nick Miller is calling on Senate Republicans to introduce bipartisan legislation in the Senate that protects ratepayers, strengthens local communities and sets clear statewide standards for responsible development.
“Pennsylvania needs stringent and enforceable guardrails around data center development,” he said Senator Nick Miller. “These projects cannot come at the expense of higher utility bills, strained infrastructure, or leaving communities out of the process, even if it creates economic opportunities. Families should never be forced to subsidize the costs of powering billion-dollar technology corporations.”
Several data center development bills have recently passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The draft laws have been sent to the Senate committees, where they are awaiting consideration.
House Act 1834 It would place stringent, enforceable barriers to data center expansion by establishing the commonwealth’s first statewide ratepayer protection framework, it would prevent the costs of powering massive data centers from being passed on to hard-working families, it would require investments in immaculate energy and programs like LIHEAP for energy assistance, and it would ensure that business growth does not come at the expense of hard-working Pennsylvanians.
House Bill 2496 would allow local municipalities to implement a 6-month pause on data center development to take time to update their zoning ordinances.
House Bill 2650Governor Shapiro’s GRID standards proposal would establish sturdy, enforceable standards for data center development to protect energy affordability, invest in local communities, and protect the environment.
At a time when families are already struggling to afford groceries, housing and rising utility bills, legislators cannot allow additional costs to fall on consumers. Responsible data center development can balance economic growth with affordability and accountability.
This effort builds on Senator Miller’s work as Senate Democratic Policy Chair to lower energy costs and develop strategies to protect Pennsylvania families from rising utility bills in June 2026. It also follows his Senate Democratic Caucus policy hearing on the impact of data centers and policy solutions needed to protect residential ratepayers while planning for the commonwealth’s growing energy demand.
“It’s time to put Pennsylvanians first and enact responsible legislation that protects ratepayers, strengthens communities, and ensures our energy future works for everyone,” said Senator Miller.
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Contact: Gail Vivar, 201-870-2378
