STATEWIDE (March 24, 2026) – Katie Blume, chair of the Clean Power PA coalition, made the following statement after HB 1834 (data center accountability bill) passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives:

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“Clean Power PA applauds the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for passing this data center accountability legislation, an important first step toward responsibly managing the rapidly growing development of data centers in the state. This legislation recognizes what Pennsylvanians already know: families must be protected from higher electricity bills and the local pollution and harmful effects on communities that come from unchecked data center growth. 

“HB 1834 builds common-sense guardrails that protect residential and small-business customers from unfair shifting of energy costs from data centers, while ensuring large data centers contribute to the infrastructure needed to serve them. It requires that data centers provide support for the LIHEAP program, which serves the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians struggling to keep up with rising energy bills. The bill also helps steer new demand toward cleaner, cheaper energy solutions and imposes stronger standards on data centers for backup power, reducing air pollution and the public health damage that goes with it in communities already carrying heavy burdens. 

“Pennsylvania cannot ask families to subsidize Big Tech’s huge appetite for energy. By passing this bill, the House has put consumers first and positioned Pennsylvania to become a leader in managing data center growth, holding the industry accountable, and limiting harms to consumers and communities.⁠

“Data center development is exploding rapidly across our state. We need action right away. The State Senate should take up and pass this bill immediately.” 

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