An Act providing for commercial data center transparency regarding energy use, water use and noise pollution; imposing duties on the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation and the Office of Attorney General; and imposing civil penalties.
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This act, the Commercial Data Center Transparency Act, aims to increase transparency surrounding commercial data centers in Pennsylvania. It requires data centers to disclose information about their energy and water usage, as well as noise pollution, during the permitting process. The Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the Office of Attorney General are tasked with overseeing these disclosures and imposing civil penalties for non-compliance. The act also addresses utility costs and transportation-related noise mitigation.
Key provisions
- Requires commercial data centers with a peak demand of 25 megawatts or greater to disclose energy and water usage.
- Establishes definitions for key terms, including ‘commercial data center,’ ‘water use,’ and ‘consumptive use.’
- Assigns duties to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the Office of Attorney General for overseeing data center transparency.
- Imposes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for knowingly providing false information.
- Requires data centers to submit information about their water use to the Department of Environmental Protection.
- Addresses utility cost transparency and oversight by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
- Mandates consideration of noise mitigation measures for transportation projects serving data centers.
- Clarifies that municipalities retain their zoning authority and do not have to permit data centers.
Bill text
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Document of record
- Version
- Pn 3401 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
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Sponsors
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8 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Jacob Banta
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