The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 2515 sets transparency rules and water and noise disclosures for commercial data centers
Last action · May 13, 2026: Referred to ENERGY, May 13, 2026Sponsors: Jamie Walsh and 8 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Commercial data centers using over 25 megawatts of power must disclose water use, noise mitigation plans, and utility cost allocations when applying for state permits. The Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, and Attorney General are tasked with enforcement and public oversight, with the law taking effect in 60 days.
Data center developers face mandatory public reporting and potential civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation for failing to disclose project details, while local municipalities gain direct access to water usage and electrical grid impact data.
- Commercial data centers have expanded rapidly in suburban and rural areas, prompting concerns among state and local officials over electrical grid capacity, water usage, and noise pollution. context
- Pennsylvania House Bill 2515 was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Energy on May 13, 2026. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Commercial data center applicants
Applicants must provide extensive resource, utility, and noise disclosures and face civil penalties or permit revocation for non-compliance.
Department of Environmental Protection
The department must administer water use disclosures, maintain public websites, post plain-language summaries, and collect public comments.
Electric distribution companies
Electric utilities must provide written statements on anticipated peak demand and facility cost assignments upon request by municipalities or permitting authorities.
Local municipalities and counties
Counties and municipalities receive copies of water use submissions, plain-language summaries, and can request utility cost statements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies as a commercial data center under this bill?
What water usage levels trigger reporting to the Department of Environmental Protection?
Can electric distribution companies pass data center infrastructure costs onto regular residential customers?
What are the penalties for failing to comply with disclosure requirements?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- May 13, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to ENERGY, May 13, 2026
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Cross-Agency Oversight for Data Centers
The bill coordinates oversight across the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, Public Utility Commission, and Attorney General for single industry projects.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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