(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – A data center owned by Amazon Web Services, front right, is under construction next to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Berwick, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) Democratic Pennsylvania State Senator Lindsay Williams, who represents the 38th Senatorial District in Allegheny County, wants to introduce legislation regarding energy needs for data centers. This bill would make a requirement for data centers to make a contribution to the universal service programs of Pennsylvania and pay for the electric grid upgrades made for their benefit. Williams believes that the changes she will propose would assist in both mitigating the impact of prices that are rising which are caused by data centers and lower costs for utilities for existing customers that are residential. There has not been a formal introduction yet to this proposal from Williams, who stated that she will discuss with both experts from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and other experts before putting it forward.