Legislative Roundup: Sen. Pennycuick to introduce legislation concerning data center development

Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, R-24, this week announced a legislative package to help local communities address concerns about large data center development in their neighborhoods.

“Data centers should not be forced into communities, placed on every undeveloped or underdeveloped parcel, or advanced in locations where residents have made clear they are not in support,” Pennycuick said. “Projects of this magnitude carry significant implications for land use, infrastructure, energy demand, and water resources that must be considered carefully and transparently.”

The legislative package includes:

• Requiring large data centers to bring their own power supply.

• Requiring data centers to provide a closed-loop water supply of reclaimed or recycled water systems of 100,000 gallons or more a day. Facilities unable to do so would be required to pay a large data center water-user mitigation charge to ensure water, wastewater, infrastructure, and conservation costs are not shifted onto existing ratepayers.

• Prohibiting state and local government agencies from entering into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for data center development. A growing practice among data center developers is to require local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements for proposed data center projects, leaving residents’ voices out of the discussion.

• Banning foreign-owned companies of concern from operating data centers in Pennsylvania.

• Preserve local control by requiring at least two publicly advertised public meetings for residents before a zoning decision may be made on a proposed hyper-scale data center.

• Creating a Pennsylvania Data Center Advisory Committee for the next 10 years to monitor development and recommend legislative or regulatory changes to protect residents, energy resources, water resources and the environment.

As Chair of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, Sen. Pennycuick is championing measures to provide real guardrails around the growth of data centers while promoting innovation.

“While there is board recognition that data centers are an important part of our modern economy, including our use of smartphones, telehealth, streaming services, cloud-based business tools, online banking, and even email — necessity does not make every location suitable,” Sen. Pennycuick said. “Residents deserve confidence that any proposal moving forward has been thoroughly reviewed with the public interest placed above private development pressures. Most importantly, they must be made with full respect and consideration of the residents who will live in these communities.”

Walsh to host update on data centers

State Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, will host a town hall meeting in Sugarloaf Township to provide an update on legislation regarding data centers currently under consideration in Harrisburg.

Walsh will provide an overview of bills aimed at establishing regulations for data center development, including some of his own proposals. He will also take audience questions about data centers.

“The development of data centers is a hot topic in our area, which is why I value opportunities like this to share information and hear from local residents,” Walsh said. “I’m looking forward to a productive meeting and to keeping the dialogue going on this issue.”

The town hall will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 19, at the Sugarloaf Township Fire Hall, 95 West County Road, Sugarloaf Township.

Seating is limited, and reservations are required. RSVP at www.RepWalsh.com/events, or call 570-359-2138.

McCormick to host 2026 Defense and Innovation Summit

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) this week announced that he will host the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, on July 14–15.

The two-day Summit will convene the nation’s and the Commonwealth’s leading defense CEOs and investors, alongside senior U.S. military and administration officials, to showcase Pennsylvania’s defense industrial base and announce partnerships and investments that drive innovation, create great-paying jobs across the Commonwealth and the country, and cement Pennsylvania as a cornerstone of American defense production.

The Summit marks the one-year anniversary of the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, which Sen. McCormick convened in Pittsburgh with President Donald J. Trump to advance American energy dominance. That first-of-its-kind event delivered more than $92 billion in private-sector commitments to the Commonwealth — the largest single-day investment announcement in Pennsylvania’s history.

“Pennsylvania built the Arsenal of Democracy that won the Second World War,” McCormick said. “Today, under President Trump’s leadership, the Commonwealth is building the Arsenal of Freedom that will secure the 21st century. From shipbuilding in Philadelphia to munitions in the Lehigh Valley, robotics and AI in Pittsburgh, and advanced manufacturing across the Commonwealth, no state is more essential to advancing the President’s Peace through Strength vision than Pennsylvania.”

DEP invests $1.44M

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this week awarded close to $1.44 million through the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant program to help eight businesses and utility companies cut costs and improve air quality through the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and build out of alternative fuel infrastructure in seven counties across Pennsylvania.

DEP awarded grants to eight recipients. The selected projects will result in the deployment of 25 alternative fuel vehicles, including four new fueling stations. Five projects are also located in or serve Environmental Justice (EJ) areas.

“With fuel prices well over $4 for gasoline and nearly $6 for diesel, Pennsylvania businesses and local governments need every option available to save on gas,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These grants will help reduce costs for these companies with alternative fuel solutions that will help save them money and also reduce air pollution. AFIG projects like these lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for many Pennsylvania communities with the use of electric school buses, renewable natural gas (RNG) trucks, electric charging stations, and other clean transportation alternatives.”

The DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program offers grant funding for projects to replace older gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles with cleaner alternative fuel vehicles — like electric and natural gas — and install infrastructure to improve air quality in Pennsylvania. This program builds on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s agenda to create a bold, comprehensive climate and energy plan that will grow the Commonwealth’s economy, protect and create jobs, and address the changing climate.

In Pennsylvania, 47% of nitrogen oxide emissions come from gasoline and diesel vehicles, and transportation contributes up to 22% of Pennsylvania’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The awards will save approximately 774,000 gallons of gasoline per year.

AFIG priorities for 2026 funding include: businesses whose headquarters or principal place of business are located in Pennsylvania, zero emission vehicle projects; medium-duty and light-duty fleet refueling infrastructure projects; renewable natural gas vehicle and infrastructure projects; projects located in or predominantly serving Environmental Justice areas; and minority, veteran, or woman-owned businesses.

The AFIG Program is accepting grant applications until 12 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2026.

In Luzerne County:

• Romark Logistics of PA, Inc. — $225,000 for the purchase of three EV terminal tractors.

In Schuylkill County:

• Masser Logistics Service — $100,000 for the purchase of one class 8 EV truck.

• Wegmans Food Markets — $75,000 for the purchase of one EV terminal tractor.