Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Pielli’s data center regulation bill passes state House

Pielli’s data center regulation bill passes state House

Legislation would prohibit data centers from obtaining public utility status

Rep. Chris Pielli    October 19, 2026 | 4:17 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 19 – State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, announced today that his legislation to prohibit data centers from obtaining public utility status has passed the state House by a bipartisan vote of 202-1.

Pielli says that by obtaining public utility status, data center developers could preempt local zoning ordinances and be able to invoke eminent domain; operate as a regulated monopoly; and acquire development rights, rights-of-way and property for building, maintaining or expanding infrastructure for data center projects that only benefit private, for-profit corporations.

“Since 2020, when data centers started to be constructed, Pennsylvania’s energy costs have risen by over 70%,” Pielli said. “With there being estimates of up to 130 active data centers with an additional 55 data centers being proposed, planned or under construction, this problem will only get worse without proper regulation. If data centers gain public utility status, they will essentially become digital dictators that could preempt local municipal zoning ordinances and reduce communities’ control over land-use decisions. We need to place guardrails on this issue immediately and ensure that Pennsylvanians have a voice in where these data centers are developed.”

The bill, H.B. 2674, now goes to the state Senate for consideration.