PA Environment Digest Blog: PA Farm Bureau Supports Pause On A.I. Data Center Development, Issues Policy Paper On Why A Pause Is Needed

In July, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Board voted unanimously to support a statewide moratorium on the frenzy to build A.I. data centers expressing concerns about eminent domain and preserving farmland.

In a Facebook post on September 24, the PA Farm Bureau released a policy paper on the issue written by State Board Director Andy Bater that describes the concerns of the farmer members of the organization.

The paper says in part "Pennsylvania needs more time to get data center development right.

"The opportunities of data center development should not be ignored, but a thoughtful, well-planned approach is necessary to protect farms and communities.

"Before development moves forward, Pennsylvania needs to:

-- Give policymakers and communities time to research the impacts of data centers and their supporting infrastructure;

-- Provide rural municipalities with the resources and support they need to effectively evaluate and manage data center opportunities;

-- Recognize the unique value of farmland and account for the long-term impacts of land loss and fragmented farms;

-- Ensure local communities and ratepayers receive an equitable share of profits for bearing the burden of these massive projects;

"Development opportunities aren't going anywhere. However, the damage caused to farms and communities through hasty, poorly planned development can't be undone.

"Through careful research and strong, common sense regulations, Pennsylvania communities will be able to welcome new investments, confident in the future they bring."

Click Here to read the entire paper.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Public Utility Commission To Hold Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads [PaEN]

-- PUC: Fewer, But Bigger Power Outages Impacted Nearly 2.9 Million Electric Customers In 2025, The Same As In 2024; But More Than Double The Number Of Customers Were Impacted By Major Outage Events [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvanians Are Finding Their Voices Again On Environmental, Energy Issues They Care About [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- NBC10: PA Senate Republican Leader, House Democratic Speaker Reject A.I. Data Center Moratorium Legislation

-- Altoona Mirror - Robert Swift: PA House Energy Committee Chair Rep. Fiedler Drafting Legislation To Give Gov. Shapiro’s Data Center Executive Order Some Teeth

-- ABC27: PUC Chair Addresses Data Center Concerns, Says Companies Should Do What Microsoft Is Doing With The Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Pennsylvania’s A.I. Data Center Boom Is Repeating Old Patterns Of Exploitation

-- We’ve Heard This Before: ‘We’re Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs’ - A Brief Review Of Pennsylvania’s Conservation History [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: A.I. Data Center Developers Should Learn From Shale Gas Industry On How To Handle Public Controversy And Regulations Amid Public Backlash [PDF of Article]