Lawmakers up Transparency for Data Centers, Leave $2B Tax Exemption Untouched in Pa. Budget

Pa. state lawmakers found common ground on this data center policy — but still couldn’t reach a deal

Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has proposed his own plan for conditioning tax breaks for data centers, said he plans to take executive action in the coming weeks.

'Please raise your hand': AOC challenges tech billionaires and lawmakers to live near a data center

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently challenged tech billionaires and members of Congress to say whether they would want to live next to an AI data center. She made the comments during a congressional committee session. Ocasio-Cortez said, “Ask Peter Thiel, ask Elon Musk, ask Mark Zuckerberg if they want one of these data centers in their own backyard.” She then turned the question to her fellow committee members, saying, “Ask any one of us he…

Lawmakers up transparency for data centers, leave $2B tax exemption untouched in Pa. budget

Environmentalists say the one data center proposal that became law, an energy use reporting requirement, is not substantive.

Lawmakers up transparency for data centers

HARRISBURG — Despite a flurry of proposals to regulate data centers in the months leading up to this year’s state budget deadline, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed only one related measure as part of the $50.8 billion deal.

Lawmakers up transparency for data centers, leave $2B tax exemption untouched in Pa. budget. Environmentalists say the one data center proposal that became law, an energy use reporting requirement, is not substantive.

Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PASpotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Despite a flurry of proposals to regulate data centers in the months leading up to this year’s state budget deadline, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed only one related measure as part…

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Skip Over Data Center Moratorium Proposals and Tax Breaks

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2026 – Despite a flurry of proposed bills regarding data centers, the divided Pennsylvania legislature passed only one measure as part of the state’s $50.8 billion budget.The passed bill mandates data centers using over 10 megawatts of electricity annually, enough energy to power roughly 7,000 homes, to disclose their energy and water usage. Environmental advocates called the change positive, but not especially impactful. Le…