Energy

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 2450: An Act amending the act of July 10, 1984 (P.L.688, No.147), known as the Radiation Protection Act, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in fees, further providing for nuclear facility and transport fees.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Radiation Protection Act to update definitions and establish new fees for nuclear facilities and radioactive material transport. It clarifies the definition of independent spent fuel storage installations and requires operators of nuclear power reactor sites to pay annual fees to the Department of Environmental Resources, with specific amounts set for sites that still store spent fuel. Additionally, the legislation mandates that shippers of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials pay a fee for each vehicle, railroad, or barge shipment moving through the state. The bill also introduces a cost recovery mechanism for shut-down reactors, allowing the agency to charge owners for incident response costs if all spent fuel has been moved to approved dry cask storage. These changes aim to generate revenue for radiation safety programs and emergency preparedness without altering the core regulatory authority of the state.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes fees for nuclear facilities and transport, generating revenue to support nuclear energy infrastructure and safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 13, 2026

HB 2515: 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.

This bill, known as the Commercial Data Center Transparency Act, requires large data centers in Pennsylvania to publicly disclose their energy, water, and noise impacts. It specifically targets facilities with a peak power demand of 25 megawatts or more, mandating that applicants reveal details in their permit applications regarding water usage, wastewater, air quality, and transportation needs. The law also obligates these facilities to report specific water consumption data to the Department of Environmental Protection if they use more than 100,000 gallons per day or consume 20,000 gallons daily. To ensure compliance, the bill imposes civil penalties on entities that knowingly fail to make required disclosures or submit false information.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates transparency for data center energy and water use, promoting efficiency and accountability in energy consumption.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates transparency for data centers on energy, water, and noise, strengthening environmental oversight and resource conservation.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates transparency for data centers regarding energy and water use, promoting sustainability and environmental accountability for critical tech infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 13, 2026

HB 2516: An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in comprehensive plan, providing for comprehensive plan element for commercial data centers; and, in zoning, providing for zoning, commercial data centers and agricultural land protections and for zoning, commercial data centers, approval procedure and minimum standards.

This bill directs Pennsylvania municipalities to update their planning and zoning laws to specifically regulate large commercial data centers, which are defined as facilities with a peak power demand of 25 megawatts or more. It requires local comprehensive plans to identify suitable sites near existing infrastructure while explicitly protecting prime agricultural land and areas under conservation easements from such development. Additionally, the legislation establishes minimum standards for any data center zoning, including mandatory setbacks of 2,500 feet from residential areas and 300 feet from public roads, along with rules for noise, lighting, water usage, and site restoration. Local governments retain the authority to adopt stricter regulations but must follow these baseline requirements if they choose to permit these facilities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill regulates data centers to protect agricultural land and ensure infrastructure readiness, supporting sustainable energy infrastructure development.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly protects prime agricultural land and conservation easements from commercial data center development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 2429: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in restructuring of electric utility industry, providing for hosting capacity maps.

This bill requires electric distribution companies in Pennsylvania to create and publish online maps showing how much additional power their local grids can support. These maps must be updated every two months and include details on available capacity, existing power sources, and any grid limitations that could affect new connections. The legislation also mandates that utilities provide clear, standardized information about reliability issues and planned upgrades to help customers and businesses plan their energy needs. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for individuals to request specific grid data and ensures that utilities cannot unfairly deny access to this information.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates hosting capacity maps to enable grid expansion and support new energy connections, facilitating renewable integration and infrastructure growth.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Transmission

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1291: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing for advanced transmission technologies.

This bill requires electric distribution companies in Pennsylvania to submit evidence showing how they plan to use advanced transmission technologies when applying to build new power lines. Under the new rules, proposed projects will only be approved if the commission determines that feasible and cost-effective technologies are used to achieve at least two specific goals, such as avoiding new construction, increasing system capacity, or reducing environmental impacts. The legislation also allows companies to recover any extra costs associated with these upgrades through approved tariffs and defines specific technologies like dynamic line rating and high-performance conductors.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates use of advanced transmission tech to increase capacity and reduce environmental impacts, strengthening energy infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates use of advanced transmission technologies to reduce environmental impacts and avoid new construction, directly strengthening environmental protection.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates the use of advanced transmission technologies to improve grid capacity and reduce environmental impacts, directly advancing technological adoption in infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Transmission

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1297: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Computer Data Center Equipment Incentive Program, further providing for application for certification and for separation of facilities, providing for additional eligibility requirements, further providing for notification, for revocation of certification, for application for certification and for separation of facilities, providing for additional eligibility requirements and further providing for notification and records and for revocation of certification.

This Pennsylvania bill updates the state's Computer Data Center Equipment Incentive Program by adding new eligibility requirements that will take effect on January 1, 2030. To qualify for tax incentives, data centers must purchase 100% of their electricity from renewable sources and demonstrate investments in environmental management and energy efficiency by meeting specific green building standards. The legislation also allows owners to separate facilities into multiple certified units and establishes procedures for notifying the state of compliance and revoking certifications if requirements are not met.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens the state's fiscal management by updating tax incentives to require renewable energy and efficiency, promoting long-term economic sustainability.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates 100% renewable electricity for data centers and requires energy efficiency investments, directly advancing clean energy goals.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates renewable energy and efficiency standards for data centers, promoting sustainable technology infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 724: An Act providing for regulation of large load customers and public utilities and for community benefits agreements between large load customers and community-based organizations; establishing the Data Center LIHEAP Enhancement Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

This bill, known as the Data Center Fair Share Act, requires large data centers in Pennsylvania that consume significant amounts of electricity to negotiate binding agreements with local community organizations. These agreements must include specific, measurable benefits for the host community, such as job training or infrastructure support, and the bill also mandates that these facilities make financial contributions to help pay for local power grid upgrades. Additionally, the legislation creates a new fund to support low-income households with energy bills and directs state agencies to create temporary regulations within 120 days to enforce these new requirements on large energy users.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates community benefits and grid upgrades for data centers, strengthening energy infrastructure and ensuring fair resource distribution.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Utility Regulation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2463: An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in creation, alteration and termination of condominiums, providing for electric vehicle charging stations; in creation, alteration and termination of cooperatives, providing for electric vehicle charging stations; and, in creation, alteration and termination of planned communities, providing for electric vehicle charging stations.

This bill updates Pennsylvania laws to allow condominium owners, cooperative members, and planned community residents to install personal electric vehicle charging stations in their parking spaces or approved common areas. It mandates that property management associations cannot ban these installations and must review applications within 60 days, while still permitting reasonable rules regarding architectural standards and safety. The legislation clarifies that the unit owner bears all costs for installation, electricity, and potential damage, and requires the station to be installed by a certified electrician with specific training. Additionally, the bill establishes that the charging station remains the owner's personal property, which they must remove or transfer to a buyer when selling their unit, and requires liability insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill facilitates EV charging infrastructure, promoting electric vehicle adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates EV charging station access in housing, preventing bans and protecting owner rights to install infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 2348: An Act amending the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1672, No.213), known as the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, further providing for definitions, for interconnection standards for customer-generator facilities and for interagency responsibilities.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to update definitions and clarify rules for customer-owned renewable energy systems. It specifically expands the definition of "customer-generator" to include larger systems up to 3,000 kilowatts and establishes new requirements for large systems between 50 and 3,000 kilowatts, such as needing independent electric load and limiting system size to 200% of annual consumption. The legislation also adds precise definitions for terms like "avoided cost," "brownfield," and "commercial rooftop" to improve clarity within the existing energy framework. These changes directly affect electric utilities, renewable energy installers, and customers who generate their own power by standardizing how these systems connect to the grid and are compensated.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expands renewable energy definitions and supports customer-owned generation systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar Transmission

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 2396: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for consumer fuel price relief.

This bill amends Pennsylvania vehicle laws to provide temporary fuel price relief by reducing specific taxes on gasoline and fees for electric vehicle road users. For the first six months after it takes effect, the state will eliminate certain fuel taxes, and for the following six months, it will cut those fees by half. To ensure consumers benefit directly, the law requires fuel dealers to pass these savings on by lowering sale prices and prohibits them from keeping the tax reduction as extra profit. The Department of Revenue must estimate the resulting loss in state revenue, and the State Treasurer is then required to transfer that amount from a budget reserve fund to maintain highway maintenance financing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reduces fuel taxes and fees, providing direct tax relief and financial support to consumers.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides direct consumer fuel price relief by reducing taxes and fees, protecting utility consumers and lowering energy costs.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill reduces fuel taxes and fees to provide consumer relief, directly benefiting transportation costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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