July 11, 2026 − As communities across Pennsylvania raise concerns about the rapid growth of data centers and their impact on energy costs, Senator Nick Miller is calling on Senate Republicans to bring bipartisan legislation to the Senate floor that protects ratepayers, strengthens local communities, and establishes clear statewide standards for responsible development.
“Pennsylvania needs strict, enforceable guardrails around data center development,” said Senator Nick Miller. “These projects cannot come at the expense of higher utility bills, strained infrastructure, or communities being left out of the process even if it creates economic opportunities. Families should never be forced to subsidize the cost of powering billion-dollar tech corporations.”
Several bills addressing data center development recently passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The bills have been referred to Senate Committees, where they await consideration.
House Bill 1834 would place strict, enforceable guardrails on data center developments, establishing the Commonwealth’s first statewide framework to protect ratepayers, prevent the costs of powering massive data centers from being passed on to hardworking families, require investments in clean energy and programs like LIHEAP for energy assistance, and ensure corporate growth doesn’t come at the expense of hardworking Pennsylvanians.
House Bill 2496 would allow local municipalities to implement a 6-month pause on data center developments to spend time updating their zoning ordinances.
House Bill 2650, Governor Shapiro’s GRID Standards proposal, would establish strong, enforceable standards for data center developments 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, the legislature 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 advance strategies that protect Pennsylvania families from rising utility bills in June 2026. It also follows his Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Hearing on the impacts of data centers and the policy solutions needed to protect residential ratepayers while planning for the Commonwealth’s growing energy demands.
“It is time to put Pennsylvania residents first and advance 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