STATEMENT: Clean Power PA on State’s Failure to Enact Data Center Accountability Legislation as Part of Budget Agreement
By blocking data center accountability bills backed by governor and State House and failing to address the rising electricity costs and community harms caused by data centers, the state Senate majority is failing Pennsylvanians
STATEWIDE (July 12, 2026) – Katie Blume, chair of the Clean Power PA coalition, made the following statement after the 2026-27 state budget and related bills were enacted:
“We at the Clean Power PA coalition are pleased that a state budget was enacted without a protracted impasse, but extremely disappointed that the final budget deal does not address one of the most pressing issues facing the state: the unfettered growth of energy-hungry data centers and the urgent need for meaningful oversight and regulation to ensure these projects do not shift costs onto consumers or harm local communities.
“The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed common-sense legislation (HB 1834) months ago to hold data centers accountable and protect families from higher electricity bills and the local pollution and harmful effects on communities that come from unchecked data center growth.
“In addition to supporting that legislation, Governor Shapiro developed his GRID accountability standards that require data center developers seeking Commonwealth support to protect consumers from higher energy costs, engage local communities, create family-sustaining jobs, and meet strong environmental standards. The state House passed the GRID standards bill (HB 2650) as well.
“Yet, because state Senate leadership blocked these and other solutions and were unwilling to take any action on data centers, legislators are returning home to constituents who are angry and afraid about huge data centers proposed for their communities and already paying the price in higher utility bills.
“Pennsylvania families statewide have already been hit with increases of more than 20% on their electric bills since the beginning of last year. And that’s just the start: families in our region could be paying another $70 every month on top of that by 2028.
“Pennsylvania cannot continue to ask families to subsidize data centers’ huge appetite for energy. It cannot leave local communities to fend for themselves under the pressure of wealthy tech companies and developers.
“Pennsylvanians need action right away, and the state Senate majority must stop ignoring the needs and wishes of their constituents and blocking solutions that can head off this crisis.”
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