Preserving Carbon County’s Future Through Local Control on Data Center Development

June 17, 2026

by State Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon)
As a lifelong resident of Carbon County, I share the concerns many have raised about recent data center proposals and their potential impact on our land, water resources and electric grid. Projects discussed in areas like Penn Forest Township have prompted important conversations about how we protect our rural character, natural environment and quality of life.

It's important to recognize many of these proposals remain speculative and are often driven by land developers seeking to capitalize on the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Until a committed operator presents a fully developed plan, there is no certainty any of these projects will move forward. However, I understand uncertainty doesn't lessen the concerns residents feel today.

When I talk to people concerned about these proposals, I hear a lot of issues being raised about things like water usage, demands on electricity and the overall impact on natural resources. These topics are valid and deserve careful consideration.

Pennsylvania already has multiple layers of regulatory review in place to evaluate these concerns. Those reviews include oversight by the Department of Environmental Protection under the Clean Streams Law, the county conservation district, Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory assessments to protect sensitive habitats and endangered species, and approvals from the Delaware River Basin Commission for significant water withdrawals.

While Pennsylvania has established safeguards to evaluate these proposals, we must continue to ensure decisions are made carefully, transparently and with the long-term interests of our communities in mind. That is why local control must remain at the center of this discussion.

Our local township supervisors and municipal leaders live in the communities they serve. They understand local priorities, concerns, and are best positioned to determine whether proposed developments are appropriate for their communities. We need to work together to ensure they have the tools they need to thoroughly review proposals as they arise.

I'm a sponsor of House Bill 2533, which is legislation proposed by Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne) that would empower municipalities to place an 18-month moratorium on data center development. This legislation would give municipalities additional time to review proposals, consider potential impacts and determine whether projects are appropriate for their area.

I see the shotgun approach being taken by some to pursue sites that aren't appropriate for large-scale development. We must carefully consider the impact these projects could have on our landscapes, natural resources and the character of our communities before decisions are made.

Responsible development should focus on already industrialized sites, brownfields and former industrial properties rather than clear-cutting mountainsides in Penn Forest Township or disrupting environmentally sensitive areas across our Commonwealth.

Just as importantly, local residents should not be forced to subsidize these massive facilities through higher electricity rates or infrastructure costs. Large-scale data centers raise important questions about energy demand, as a single hyperscale facility can require 100 megawatts or more of electricity and add pressure to Pennsylvania's already constrained power grid.

My position is simple: we must protect Carbon County's natural resources, preserve local decision-making authority and support responsible economic development in locations where it makes sense and complies with all environmental and community safety standards.

Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andrew Forgotch
717.772.9905
[email protected]