Pennsylvania Democrats Face Pressure on Data Centers, Energy Costs as Party Takes Full Control of Harrisburg

Pennsylvania Democrats will hold the governor's office, the State House and the State Senate for the first time since 1993, and environmental advocates and former officials say the party now has no one else to blame if it fails to act on hyperscale data centers and rising energy costs.

The new majority will be thin- Democrats will control the Senate by a 26-24 margin, meaning a single defection can sink a bill, since tie votes in the chamber automatically fail.

Six data centers built for artificial intelligence and totaling millions of square feet are proposed for Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties. The projects have become tied to consumer utility bills as the electric grid and utilities struggle to keep pace with power demand.

Two competing approaches are already on the table. A bill from State Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support, would let municipalities voluntarily impose a moratorium of up to 180 days on data center proposals while they write local rules. It has been referred to the Senate. A broader bill from state Sen. Katie Muth, D-Chester, would impose a three-year statewide moratorium on hyperscale data center development and permitting, the bill currently sits in committee.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order over the summer restricting data center development, a shift from his initial embrace of the projects.

David Hess, who led the Department of Environmental Protection under former Republican Govs. Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker, called one-party Democratic control the biggest change he has seen in state politics in 50 years and warned that voters will expect quick results on data centers, energy costs and shale gas rules.

"Democrats have to show progress on those issues," Hess said, "or they'll suffer the same fate the Republicans had in this election. People want results."

Hess said environmental protections for natural gas drilling have not changed in 23 years. He favors larger setbacks between gas projects and communities and a ban on spreading drilling wastewater on roads, along with an "all of the above" energy policy that moves away from dependence on Marcellus Shale gas.

Party leaders will also have to hold together a caucus that runs from progressives to conservative Democrats whose districts depend on fossil fuel jobs. David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, said the transition from minority to majority will not be smooth.

"It's much different being in charge than being in the minority," Masur said. "They have to build the ship while they sail it. And they can't lose a single vote."

Masur urged leaders to start with bills the House has already passed, including community solar expansion, a ban on PFAS "forever chemicals" in personal care products, appliance efficiency standards and the 180-day data center moratorium.

The new legislative session begins in January, when Democrats will have to show whether their majority can move data center and energy bills to Shapiro's desk.