The House Environmental Resources and Natural Protection Committee approved legislation Monday requiring reporting of water needs in advance by data center projects.

The committee voted 16-10 for House Bill 2246, sponsored by Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery.

HB2246 takes a proactive approach to water use while other legislation seeks reports on water already used by data centers.

HB2246 would require data centers to notify the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about water needs prior to construction.

The notifications under HB2246 cover estimated daily, monthly and annual water use; water sources, water temperature and evidence that the proposed water withdrawal won’t affect the quantity or quality of other uses.

Under HB2246, DEP would use the information in issuing or denying permits under the state Clean Streams Law.

The bill recognizes that data center projects in the jurisdiction of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the Delaware River Basin Commission would need water use approvals from those agencies.

The two interstate agencies hold regulatory power over water withdrawals in their respective basins.

HB2246 sets some guardrails on water use by data centers, said Webster.

“This is a modest bill that creates some agency oversight and some reporting requirements,” he said.

Committee Minority Chair Jack Rader, R-Monroe, opposed the bill, saying local water control is preferable. The Delaware River Basin Commission is set up to handle those issues, he added.

House vote on water use bill

The House scheduled a vote Tuesday on House Bill 2150, sponsored by Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna, requiring large data centers to report annual water and energy use to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Pennsylvania has more than 100 data centers operating and dozens of new data center projects have been announced during the past year.

Lawmakers have introduced more than 30 data center bills during the same period.