In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation known as the “Pennsylvania Families First” AI Infrastructure Protection Act to protect Pennsylvania consumers, communities, energy infrastructure, and water resources from the rapidly expanding demands associated with hyperscale artificial intelligence and data center development.

Artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centers are transforming the modern economy. While technological innovation can create opportunities for economic growth and job creation, Pennsylvania families should not bear the financial burden of subsidizing trillion-dollar technology corporations through higher utility bills, strained infrastructure, or unchecked water consumption.

States across the country are beginning to recognize the enormous impact these facilities can have on electric grids, water systems, land use, and local communities. This past week, Florida enacted Senate Bill 484 (Act 65 of 2026) to establish safeguards ensuring that ordinary consumers are protected from absorbing the costs associated with hyperscale AI infrastructure expansion. Pennsylvania must act proactively before similar pressures significantly impact our commonwealth.

The legislation I intend to introduce will establish commonsense guardrails to ensure that Pennsylvania residents, seniors, small businesses, and local communities are protected as AI-related infrastructure rapidly expands throughout the state.

Specifically, this legislation will:

• Prohibit electric utilities from shifting the costs of hyperscale AI and data center infrastructure upgrades onto residential consumers and small businesses;
• Require hyperscale data centers to fully fund necessary transmission upgrades, substations, grid expansion, and related infrastructure directly attributable to their operations;
• Strengthen oversight of industrial-scale water consumption associated with large AI and data center cooling systems;
• Require public transparency regarding projected electricity demand, water usage, tax incentives, and infrastructure impacts associated with proposed hyperscale facilities;
• Preserve local government authority regarding zoning, siting, and land-use decisions affecting AI and hyperscale data center projects;
• Establish safeguards prohibiting hostile foreign adversaries or foreign-controlled entities from owning or operating hyperscale AI infrastructure near critical infrastructure, military installations, or strategic assets within the commonwealth;
• Prioritize residential consumers, hospitals, emergency services, and critical public infrastructure during periods of electric grid stress or emergency shortages.

Pennsylvania families are already facing rising utility costs and increasing strain on our electric grid. The commonwealth must ensure that working families are not forced to subsidize the explosive energy and water demands of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world.

This legislation is not intended to discourage innovation or economic development. Rather, it is intended to ensure that technological growth occurs responsibly, transparently, and without unfairly burdening Pennsylvania ratepayers and communities.

I respectfully invite you to join me as a co-sponsor of this important legislation.

Please contact my office if you have any questions or would like additional information.