Lehigh County, PA —  Yesterday, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley won the election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 16, ousting incumbent Republican Jarrett Coleman. Pinsley’s call for a data center moratorium was central to his campaign, representing a rejection of Big Tech and the data industry agenda largely embraced by Governor Josh Shapiro. Pinsley was critical of both parties’ approach to data centers, criticizing Shapiro’s recent Executive Order as a half measure.

The election results demonstrate historic gains for Democrats, who have won majority control of the state senate for the first time since 1993. 

Food & Water Action endorsed Pinsley and knocked over 6,000 doors, talking to over 1,000 voters about Pinsley’s fight against data centers. Lehigh County has two active data center proposals in South Whitehall and Allentown and more than two dozen Lehigh Valley municipalities have passed or are working on ordinances regulating data centers.

Recent polling found that 74% of Pennsylvania voters oppose data center siting in their communities. Already, one in four Pennsylvanians struggle to afford their utility bills as bills have increased over 63% in five years. Utility corporations have sought rate hikes to accommodate data center buildout, which has already saddled ratepayers with hundreds of millions of dollars in transmission costs. 

Deena Stoudt, Lehigh Valley Organizer for Food & Water Action, issued the following statement: 

“Pennsylvania voters have demonstrated that we are looking for meaningful action on data centers. Food & Water Action is proud to help elect Mark Pinsley to make that happen. His call for a data center moratorium reflects what Pennsylvanians want. Data centers will only add to our problems; we can’t afford more pollution, higher bills, and the loss of our remaining agricultural land. 

“Municipalities have been scrambling to get rules on the books to address the data center debacle, all without adequate support from the state. People like Pinsley offer a beacon of hope for Pennsylvanians betrayed by the lack of action on data centers by moving the needle toward a more secure future for our communities.”

Pinsley’s defeated opponent Coleman had a poor track record on data center opposition. He proposed SB1345 this summer, which would allow municipalities to enact an optional 18-month moratorium on new hyperscale data center applications — an ability they already have. Advocates denounced the bill’s carveout for developers to request waiving a moratorium if it creates undue hardship for the developer. Additionally, the bill would not apply to data centers that previously entered into an agreement and would be co-located on a power generation site.