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Key developments
Pennsylvania committees advance data-center guardrail bills
Pennsylvania Capital-Star reporters Peter Hall and Whitney Downard reported that three data-center bills advanced Wednesday in the state House, targeting transparency, local zoning authority and sustainability-linked tax policy. HB 2359 passed the House Energy Committee 23-3 and would require developers to pledge transparency to qualify for a sales-tax break on computer equipment; a separate Local Government Committee bill would let municipalities pause hyperscale applications for 180 days; and HB 2650 would replace the current exemption with certification tied to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s GRID standards. The existing data-center sales-tax exemption is projected to cost Pennsylvania $517 million annually by 2030.
Why it matters
Pennsylvania is moving from incentives-first data-center policy toward conditional approvals, local control and cost-impact scrutiny.
Sources & driving stories
PENNSYLVANIA CAPITAL-STAR · Peter Hall and Whitney Downard
Pennsylvania Capital-Star coveragePAHOUSE
Pahouse coverageFERC nears guidance for large-load grid connections
Cryptobriefing reported that FERC plans action by the end of June on Docket RM26-4-000, focused on interconnection reform for large loads above 20 MW, including AI and hyperscale data centers. The effort follows a 2025 Energy Department ANOPR and prior FERC moves directing PJM to develop transmission-service options for data centers co-located with generation. Southwest Power Pool has already received approval for a High Impact Large Load framework.
Why it matters
Federal guidance could reshape how data centers access constrained grids and who pays for interconnection upgrades.
Sources & driving stories
CRYPTOBRIEFING
Cryptobriefing coverageGoogle project faces Michigan wetland permit review
Planet Detroit reported that Michigan regulators are reviewing a wetland permit for Google’s planned Project Cannoli data center in Van Buren Township, a 282-acre, 1 GW project at Haggerty Road and I-94. The proposal would permanently affect 13.55 acres of wetlands, require six culverts in regulated streams, and fill or abandon 573 linear feet of stream. EPA is separately reviewing the project under Clean Water Act Section 404, Fish and Wildlife is reviewing protected-species impacts, and public comments remain open until June 26.
Why it matters
The review puts a major AI-scale campus directly into the growing conflict between greenfield data-center siting and local environmental constraints.
Sources & driving stories
PLANET DETROIT
Planet Detroit coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
California cost-shift bills await hearings
Agri-Pulse reporter Tim Hearden reported that SB 886 and SB 887, already passed by the Senate, face Assembly hearings June 22 and June 24 and would push data-center transmission and infrastructure costs onto builders while giving CEQA relief to projects using recycled water and clean on-site storage.
WORTH NOTING
Switch LAS 19 approved in Clark County
Fox 5 Las Vegas reporter Brittany Defran reported that Clark County commissioners approved zoning and development items for Switch’s roughly 56,000-square-foot LAS 19 facility after public opposition, with Switch citing closed-loop cooling and existing power infrastructure.
WORTH NOTING
Lowell tour surfaces operating impact data
CBS Boston reported rare access inside Markley’s Lowell facility, identifying it as Massachusetts’ largest data center and citing company water-use figures of 60,000 to 120,000 gallons per day amid a city moratorium on data-center construction and expansion.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Will “developer pays” become the dominant model?
Pennsylvania, California, New York and FERC-related proceedings are all testing mechanisms that would shift grid, infrastructure or community-impact costs away from general ratepayers and onto large-load data-center developers.
OPEN QUESTION
Can greenfield mega-campuses clear environmental review?
Google’s Michigan wetland review shows that AI-scale projects may face permitting delays or redesign pressure when siting conflicts with wetlands, streams, protected species and local water concerns.