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In this Update:
Gauging Full Impact of Proposed Brookville Data Center
More than 4,400 data centers are currently operating across the country, including roughly 130 in Pennsylvania and one potential data center targeted for Jefferson County. The property, located near Brookville, spans more than 1,000 acres of forested land and sits alongside two creeks. It was recently listed for sale and marketed as a potential hyperscale data center site with access to up to 390 megawatts of power. Of course, the most immediate and pressing concern is water usage as the proposed Brookville data center site is located along waterways that eventually feed into the Allegheny River. If any of these water supplies dry up, Senate District 25 residents and businesses would be forced to drill new wells. Local leaders are also raising legitimate concerns that a large data center’s demand for water could negatively impact nearby streams, wildlife habitats and employers that rely on outdoor recreation, especially trout fishing. Stopping data centers from seizing land is not yet the problem in Pennsylvania. Another major area of concern is utility companies seizing homes, family farms and other private property through eminent domain to directly supply massive data centers with the land and natural resources they need to operate. Preventing these corporate eminent domain seizures is precisely what the legislation I am considering introducing would seek to address. Although the sale of the Brookville property has not yet been finalized, the listing realtor confirmed the property is currently under contract. The identity of the potential buyer has not been disclosed. Moving forward, we must never lose sight that there is still much to learn about the long-term impact of data centers on rural communities. In short, we know they are here, we know they are coming, and we know there’s a need for them. Most importantly, it is imperative for local, state and federal elected officials to continue to conduct the necessary information gathering to ensure we get this right in the best interests of the people we serve. Watch my interview with WTAJ-TV. Senate Votes to Protect Your Right to Know About Government Actions
The Senate approved legislation to strengthen government transparency and protect the public’s right to know. Senate Bill 1150 would clarify Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act to ensure public agencies provide meaningful notice before acting on important matters. The bill reinforces the 24-hour agenda posting requirement and ensures exceptions for emergencies and small-scale matters remain limited. The legislation follows a state Supreme Court ruling allowing agencies to add agenda items and take official action on them with a simple majority vote, even when those items were not included on a publicly posted agenda. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about legislation to strengthen the Sunshine Act here. Making it Easier for Fire Companies, EMS Agencies to Access Funding
Legislation to make it easier for fire and EMS agencies to access state funding through the Fire and EMS Grant program was approved by the Senate. Senate Bill 1261 streamlines the application process, including eliminating outdated wording and incentives, using the state’s Single Application for Assistance instead of having a separate, redundant system, and asking fire companies to provide additional contact information to ensure lines of communication are open. The bill also increases the amount fire and EMS agencies can borrow through the State Fire Commissioner’s low-interest loan program, freeing up more funding opportunities for first responder agencies. Senate Bill 1261 now advances to the House of Representatives. Read more about these proposed improvements here. Flying the POW/MIA Flag at Public Schools
The Senate voted to require the POW/MIA flag be displayed at any public school in the commonwealth that already displays the American flag, provided the school can reasonably accommodate it. By meeting the requirement of Senate Bill 835 schools can help ensure the sacrifices of prisoners of war and those missing in action are never forgotten and demonstrate their commitment to supporting military families and educating students about the importance of service. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 835 here. Quarantine Order Issued to Protect PA Farms from Screwworm
Heightened risk of New World Screwworm (NWS) following confirmed cases in Texas and New Mexico has prompted the state Department of Agriculture to issue a quarantine order limiting the movements of livestock and pets. There are currently no cases in Pennsylvania, but NWS is a devastating pest. Its fly larvae can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people. The quarantine order establishes movement restrictions and enhanced animal health requirements for susceptible domestic animals entering Pennsylvania from affected areas. The order includes provisions for veterinary inspection, animal health certification and preventative measures designed to reduce the risk of NWS entering the commonwealth through animal movements. Read the NWS quarantine order here. Find more information about the NWS outbreak here. |
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